SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office issued the following statement to correct factual misstatements made over the weekend regarding a mass shooting that left four people dead in the city of Orange, including a 9-year-old boy, on March 31, 2021:

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office continues to provide victim advocacy to support the families whose lives were tragically impacted by the events of March 31, 2021. From the very beginning, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has offered to meet with the families when they are ready to do so.

Two victim advocates were immediately assigned by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office following the shooting to help the victims and their loved ones, providing comfort and answers about the court process, including daily updates if requested by family members, as well as assistance with applying for victim services, including burial expenses.

“Every case – and every victim – is different. They are human beings who are suffering immense grief and loss – and no one is going to tell them how to feel,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Mena Guirguis of the Homicide Unit who is prosecuting this case. “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office treats every victim like they deserve to be treated – as individuals. We make sure they know that we are here to support them every step of the way – and it is up to them – and them alone – how and when they utilize those services.”

Victim support services continue to be available to the families who lost loved ones in the shooting as well as the lone survivor of the March 31 shooting.

“These families have suffered in the most unimaginable way and they should be afforded the common decency to grieve in the way they need to grieve. It is sickening that a politician who is ignorant on the facts and clearly has no regard for the victims – or their feelings – would want to force the complexities of a special circumstances murder cases on families who just laid their loved ones to rest,” said Guirguis. “This case is not about headlines or political soundbites. It is about four people who will never be able to go home again and a mother who faces a long road to recovery while grieving the loss of her 9-year-old son.”

The Orange County District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Assistance Program provides crime victims and witnesses comprehensive services to help navigate the court process while empowering victims of violence.