Santa Ana man facing murder and gang charges after fatally stabbing a victim

Ricky Raymond Rocha, a 19-year-old, was charged last Thursday with a gang-related fatal stabbing of Javier Rivera, 51, of Cathedral City, in Santa Ana.

Rocha is facing charges of murder with a special-circumstances allegation of murder for a gang and a felony count of participating in criminal street gang as well as sentencing enhancements for gang activity and personal use of a deadly weapon.

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at 10:43 PM, Santa Ana Police Communications received a report of a male stabbing victim who arrived at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital.

The victim reported he was stabbed in the area of Euclid Street and McFadden Avenue.

On July 13, 2023 at 1:00 AM, the victim, Rivera, succumbed to his injuries at a local trauma center.

During the investigation, SAPD Homicide Detectives identified the motive for the stabbing as gang-related and the primary suspect as Ricky Rocha (19) of Santa Ana. On November 28, 2023, Rocha was taken into custody.

Both Rocha and Rivera were documented gang members, according to the SAPD.

Rocha did not enter a plea at his arraignment on Thursday, which has been rescheduled for Dec. 14 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. Rocha is being held with no bail.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the SAPD Homicide Section Detectives at (714) 245-8390, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS. This case is eligible for the Gang Reward Program, according to the SAPD.