Santa Ana : Two Youths Arrested in Shooting Death

Two Santa Ana juveniles have been arrested in connection with the shooting death last Sunday of a Santa Ana youth.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested at his home Friday on suspicion of murder in the fatal gun attack on Desiderio Monje, 17, police spokeswoman Maureen Thomas said. On Wednesday, another 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of aiding in the murder, she said.

The youths, whose names were not released because they are juveniles, are being held at the county Juvenile Hall in Orange, Thomas said.

The 9:49 p.m. attack occurred at 947 W. Highland Street. Witnesses said the victim argued and fought with the two assailants before he was shot once in the arm and then shot twice again as he writhed in pain on the ground, Thomas said.

Police said they still don’t know what led to the shooting but believe that it was not gang related.

Police have no more suspects in the shooting, Thomas said.

The youth’s death came during a rash of killings in Santa Ana. Four people died in unrelated incidents during a nine-hour span between late Sunday and early Monday, setting an unofficial record for murders in that time period, police said.

Ruben Guzman Melendez, 29, of North Hollywood was shot to death after a disturbance at the 616 Club, a 4th Street bar. Bill Jiminez Gonzales, 23, was shot to death at 1901 West 2nd St. Another unidentified man was fatally shot behind the Family Medical Clinic at 2227 West 1st St.

Police are still investigating those shootings, according to Lt. Robert Chavez.