Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: SUSPECT ARMED WITH RIFLE GOES ON CRIME SPREE
ARRESTEE: GONZALO BARAJAS (22) SANTA ANA
Today at 1:30 p.m. suspect Barajas left his residence in the 600 block of S. Ross armed with his assault-style rifle. Immediately leaving his residence the suspect committed the following crimes at the following locations:
- 625 S. Ross – brandished his rifle at two Edison workers
- 1015 S. Main (O’Reilly’s Auto Parts) – brandished his rifle at store employees
- 1206 S. Standard (NunosBros Market) – brandished his rifle at store employees
- 1502 E. Edinger (76 Gas Station) – committed an armed robbery for U.S. currency
- 1400 S. Auto Mall Dr. – brandished his rifle at victims at two separate location in the vicinity
Santa Ana PD Communications broadcast the suspect description, his vehicle and license plate number, which were obtained by victims, to all Orange County law enforcement agencies.
Tustin PD has provided the following information for the crimes that occurred in their city:
Shortly after receiving the countywide broadcast, at approx. 2 p.m., Tustin PD Communications received a call of a male inside a gray BMW possibly armed with a rifle in the area of the 15000 block of Kensington Park Dr. Tustin PD officers recognized this vehicle as matching the description provided.
Prior to the officers arriving on scene, the subject fled in the vehicle and drove to The District Shopping Center in the City of Tustin. Tustin PD Communications began receiving calls of a suspect armed with a rifle threatening customers inside Target and PetSmart. There were approximately 20 victims between all three locations in the city of Tustin. No shots were fired at any of the locations.
The suspect fled The District and officers from the City of Santa Ana began a vehicle pursuit. Santa Ana PD officers located the suspect vehicle and with the assistance of Duke pursued him into Santa Ana. Santa Ana PD detectives contacted the suspect’s mother who called suspect Barajas during the pursuit and pleaded with him to pull over and turn himself in. The suspect stopped in the area of Warner and Raitt, surrendered after several minutes and was taken into custody without incident. An unloaded assault-style rifle was recovered in the vehicle.
