Police Fatally Shoot Suspect At Catholic Church, OC Voting Center

SANTA ANA, CA — A fight at an Orange County Catholic church serving as an early voting center turned into a deadly shooting, Sunday, police say. One man was fatally shot by Santa Ana police who responded to the scene, according to spokesman Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

On Sunday afternoon, witnesses reported a fight breaking out at the Jerome Park parking area in Santa Ana, Bertagna said. When officers arrived at the scene, a parishioner at the church waved police over, saying that a man with a gun went inside the sanctuary, he said.

"An officer immediately entered the church and encountered the suspect," Bertagna said. "At that time, an officer-involved shooting occurred."

The suspect ran out of the church, and officers found him "down and unresponsive" on Center south of McFadden, he said. A firearm was recovered at the scene, Bertagna said.

Santa Ana police issued a statement in which they asserted this was an isolated incident, and there was no threat of a mass shooting incident. According to the statement, the fight and resulting shooting was in no way a "faith-based attack. Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church is a safe place to worship."

There were initial reports of a possible second gunman and shots fired, which prompted officers to cordon off several buildings on the church campus and systematically search the property.

"Officers did not locate any other suspects or evidence of any other shooting," Bertagna said.

No one else was injured during the incident, and the suspect's name was withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The church was being used as an early voting center for the March 3rd election, according to Orange County officials. Vote center staff and voters were evacuated and were safe, Santa Ana police reported.

Anyone with information on this OIS was asked to call Santa Ana police at 714-245-8390.