(December 5, 2025) — Police detectives have arrested four adults and one juvenile for a shooting that killed one juvenile and injured three others, according to the SAPD.
On September 8, 2025, at approximately 8:19 p.m., Santa Ana Police Communications received multiple reports of a shooting in the area of 400 S. Susan Street.
Upon arrival, officers located Adrian Torres, an unresponsive 13-year-old, suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso. Orange County Fire Authority also responded and pronounced the juvenile deceased at the scene.
Three additional juveniles, ages 14, 15, and 16, were also found to have sustained gunshot wounds as a result of the incident. All three victims were transported to local hospitals and listed as stable.
UPDATE:
After an extensive three-month investigation into the shooting, Homicide Detectives identified four adults: Martin Eusebio (20), Joaquin Uvalle (19), Angel Diaz (19), and Dan Mejia (29), and a 15-year-old juvenile as the suspects. The investigation revealed that the suspects drove into rival gang territory and shot the victims.
On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Detectives arrested all five suspects and served search warrants at multiple residences in the cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove related to the investigation. The suspects were subsequently booked at the Santa Ana Jail and Juvenile Hall, and Detectives are collaborating with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for filings.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call 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.
Here are the likely penalties the suspects face under California law for a gang-related shooting that killed one juvenile and injured three others:
- First-Degree Murder (Penal Code 187)
• Base penalty: 25 years to life in state prison.
• If gang-related (STEP Act, PC 186.22): additional 10 years minimum enhancement.
• If a firearm was personally used (PC 12022.53): additional 25 years to life.
• Combined effect: Often results in 50 years to life or more for the shooter. - Attempted Murder (Penal Code 664/187)
• Base penalty: life with possibility of parole for each count.
• Gang enhancement: additional 15 years to life per count.
• Firearm enhancement: additional 20–25 years if gun was discharged. - Gang Participation (PC 186.22(a))
• Separate felony charge: up to 3 years in prison for actively participating in a criminal street gang. - Juvenile Suspect (age 15)
• Likely tried as an adult under California law for murder and attempted murder if gang-related and violent.
• Faces similar penalties as adults, though parole eligibility rules differ for minors. - Consecutive Sentences
• Enhancements are typically stacked consecutively, meaning multiple life terms or decades added to the base sentence.