The homeless man shot yesterday by SAPD cops was unarmed

Updated: Click here to watch a video of the shooting, shot by a witness on his cell phone.

Police say that Hans Arellano, the 22-year-old homeless man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Santa Ana on Tuesday was not armed. Now, there are three separate investigations underway into the shooting, according to KABC News.

Friends of Arellano say that he had been sleeping behind one of the businesses near the place where he was fatally shot.

Arellano got into a confrontation with an officer around 3 p.m., then ran, he said. Another officer came to assist, and one officer, woman who is a 13-year veteran with the department, shot Arellano once in the front torso, Rojas said, according to the O.C. Register.

Elizabeth Lopez, who says she treated Arellano like a son, says the only thing missing from his backpack was his iPod. Friends wonder if the officer mistook it for a weapon, according to KABC News.

SAPD Police Chief Carlos Rojas says the officer had a stun gun, but when asked why that wasn’t used said only that all aspects of the incident were under investigation, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The victim’s sister, Tania, described her younger brother, who went by Kevin, as funny and outgoing; often, his voice and laugh were the loudest in a room. He was kind to her four children, she said, and had a soft spot for her. About a month ago, she found a branch of roses, likely rescued from a gardener’s trimmings, on the hood of her car. She instantly knew it was from her brother, according to the O.C. Register.

My sources tell me that since the exit of City Manager and former SAPD Police Chief Paul Walters, the police department has been in total chaos and many veteran cops are openly talking about leaving.  The City Council ousted Walters as part of their petty war against Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.  I am told that they will be appointing a new City Manager this Monday.

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

View Comments

  • Just watched the KTLA news where the reporter stated that the juice store acknowledge that there is a clear video of the shooting and that it was turned over to the police.

    The question is when the public will be able to view it?

    • Yeah i like how the sgt was , whoever has evidence it should be brought to us first for further investigation......yeah so they can destroy it or doctor it like they did at the cannibus clinic.....oh wait thats right the cops forgot to take the tapes...haahaaa!! Santa has the dirtiest cops...i could write a book on my horrible experience....f*ck that scum that comes from what is suppost to be our peers.....scumbags, that 13 year veteran is a drug addict ...bet you money im right...

  • That shopping center is full of crazy transients. Its scary to go to the McDonalds as they are always by the front door or the drive thru. What the article forgot to mention was this guy criminal bacground that included robbery. Iam pretty sure he was a nice person.

    • "this guy" HANS KEVIN ARELLANO SANCHEZ is my family, my brother, mi sangre!! if i were you i'd begin by apologizing..trust me dont mess with our family!!!..

  • Kind of strange...if he was so nice to his nephews and family...how come he didn't stay at their house with them instead of living in a filthy alley/parking lot?

    • Not awkward at all Guadalupe. Individual whom have mental illness are more comfortable being on the streets. There are various mental illnesses and not everyone can afford medication and housing. It is a difficult thing. I suggest educating yourself on Mental Health . You can go to http://www.nami.org ( National Alliance for Mental Health) or MHAOC.org ( mental Health Association of O.C). Hope this helps you understand what mental illness is and does to the individual and their family and friends.

  • bottom line he didnt deserve this i wish i could off seen him once again in my life he once was my everything its so sad i wish his family to find comfort in the 2 bbys he left behind he didnt deserve this. and no matter who he was what hes done who r we to judge.

  • I just learned of this incident today, Dec 12, 2013. I find it hard to believe that after months, there is no follow up on this killing anywhere on the web.
    The story says there are three investigations going on, but I can't find any results of any of them online. Perhaps it is my search strings?
    Please update the findings. Thanks.

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