On August 17, 2021 at approximately 11:02 pm, a Tustin Police officer observed a female adult lying in the roadway on Red Hill Ave. The female victim stated she had been carjacked by a male suspect holding a rifle. The suspect ordered the victim out of her vehicle and then fled the scene in the stolen car. The victim sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Additional officers responded to assist and the victim’s vehicle was located in the driveway of a residence in the area of Red Hill Ave. and Bryan Ave.
Tactical resources, and additional personnel from Irvine PD and Tustin PD, were utilized to assist with this incident. During the investigation, officers learned the suspect had fled the area. The suspect was located in Santa Ana and was taken into custody without incident. The incident concluded safely with no injuries to any officers, members of the public, or the suspect.
The suspect was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail for several violations including:
• Carjacking
• Robbery
• Assault with a Deadly Weapon
The weapon used by the suspect was recovered and was found to be a rifle assembled with un-serialized parts, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun.”
The suspect is identified as Nathan Mejia, a 21-year-old resident of Tustin. Mejia had been previously arrested for Penal Code 25850(a); Possession of a Loaded Firearm and was currently out on bail for that crime.
