Police Kill Man During Chase; 2 Are Arrested

SANTA ANA —  A police officer shot and killed an unidentified man who allegedly pulled a handgun during a foot chase Friday.

Police arrested another man at the scene and later caught a third after blocking off an eight-square-block area with the help of dogs and a helicopter, said Lt. Robert Helton.

The series of events began shortly before 5 p.m. when an unidentified officer stopped a car on Russell Avenue that matched the description of a vehicle from which shots were reportedly fired earlier in the day, Helton said.

The two passengers fled the car, climbing over a chain-link fence into the playground of Martin Elementary School, Helton said.

One of the suspects turned and drew a handgun, Helton said, and the officer fired one round at him through the fence. The man ran about 50 yards, dropped the semiautomatic weapon, ran 50 more yards and fell to the ground, Helton said. He was later pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Police arrested the driver of the 1964 Chevrolet and took him to the police station for questioning, Helton said. An area bounded by Flower Street, McFadden Avenue, Shelton Street and Wilshire Avenue was blocked off while police conducted a house-to-house search for the third suspect, he said.

None of the three occupants of the car was identified by authorities. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the car is registered to Raul Coronel of Santa Ana.

As with all shootings involving police officers, the death is being investigated by the district attorney’s officer-involved shooting team. The Santa Ana Police Department’s homicide unit is also investigating.