A routine traffic stop turned fatal late Wednesday night in downtown Santa Ana, leaving an 18-year-old father dead and a community searching for answers. The incident, which unfolded in front of the man’s girlfriend and their infant child, is now under investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
The Incident
On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at approximately 10:29 p.m., a Santa Ana Police officer attempted to stop a vehicle at Santa Ana Boulevard and French Street.
The vehicle failed to yield and continued driving for several blocks. The vehicle ultimately entered the parking garage at The Spectrum luxury apartments at 450 East Fourth Street.
The driver, later identified as Victor Lopez (18) of Santa Ana, a suspected local gang member, immediately exited the vehicle, dropped a loaded firearm to the ground, and began walking toward the officer with his hands raised.
Lopez then suddenly turned and walked back toward the firearm, which was on the ground, and lowered his hands. The officer gave Lopez clear, audible commands not to reach for “it”, and an officer-involved shooting occurred.
Lopez was struck in the upper torso and was pronounced deceased at the scene by Orange County Fire Authority. The firearm recovered at the scene was a loaded Walther 9mm handgun. Lopez was also found to be in possession of suspected fentanyl. In the vehicle at the time of the shooting were Lopez’s girlfriend, a 19-year-old woman, and their toddler.
As with all officer-involved shootings, independent investigations are being conducted by the Santa Ana Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division, Homicide Unit, and investigators from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Homicide Detectives are requesting to speak with anyone who may have information regarding this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Section at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
Conflicting Accounts
Police reports state that as the driver exited the vehicle, a firearm fell to the ground. Officials claim the officer fired after the man allegedly reached for the weapon despite commands to stay back.
However, the narrative has met immediate scrutiny. Footage circulating on social media appears to show the 19-year-old exiting the car with his hands raised in the moments before the shots were fired. While the police confirmed a firearm was recovered at the scene, the discrepancy between the official statement and the viral video has sparked significant outcry online.
What’s Next?
Per standard protocol for officer-involved shootings, the involved officer has been placed on administrative leave. The Santa Ana Police Department is conducting an internal administrative investigation alongside the independent probe by the DA.
As of Thursday morning, investigators remained on-site at the parking structure.
It should be noted that the SAPD removed a Facebook post about the shooting. We saved the graphic from that post as seen above. They had also posted a picture of their PIO at the scene, which we did not save.
It is likely that the anti-police members of the Santa Ana City Council – Jessie Lopez, Ben Vazquez and Johnathan Ryan Hernandez and O.C. Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento will blame the police, as they usually do. Several of them have in fact called our police officers murderers after past shootings.
Whether or not the 19-year-old was armed he had no business fleeing from the police. If he had a gun in the car it was awfully unwise to begin with, and was likely not legal. It would not be surprising to find out he had a prior criminal record. One must also wonder why the young man was driving around with a toddler so late at night.
Santa Ana residents should brace themselves for anti-police gatherings and rioters that are surely going to happen soon.