Police arrest 2 allegedly responsible for shooting near Costa Mesa memorial for murder victim

Austin Turner
·1 min read
16

Costa Mesa police said they’ve arrested two men responsible for a shooting that took place near a memorial for a deadly stabbing that took place just days earlier.

Officers responded to the 1700 block of Placentia Avenue at about 12:25 a.m. early Friday on reports of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers found evidence of a shooting, but no victims or suspects.

Less than an hour later police were informed that a man was seeking treatment for a non-life threatening gunshot wound at a local hospital.

Investigators connected this shooting to the memorial put in place on Placentia Avenue in honor of the victim of a deadly stabbing on June 11.

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In that case, a 22-year-old man was killed and a 19-year-old man was injured when they were allegedly attacked by two other men. The suspects have since been arrested and have been identified as Israel Antonio Valencia, 25, and Christopher Mathew Pena, 18, both of Costa Mesa.

There was no immediate word on why investigators drew the connection between the two crimes.

Investigations into Friday morning’s shooting revealed the suspects to be Eric Garcilazo, 19, and Elmer Suarez-Morales, 20, both of Costa Mesa, police said.

Suarez-Morales was found driving in the afternoon and was pulled over and arrested without incident, according to authorities.

Garcilazo was found in 2100 block of Pomona Avenue at about 4:30 p.m. He initially fled the scene and hid from officers, but was found about 30 minutes later with help of a SWAT-led perimeter.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. No additional details were immediately made available.

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