Car Burglary Suspect Shot By Police: Report

SANTA ANA, CA — Late Sunday night, Santa Ana police confronted and then shot a suspected car burglar inside an area parking structure, authorities said Monday.

Reports of several car break ins came in to authorities just before midnight, on the 1000 block of Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

"The calling party stated the suspicious person was checking car doors and was holding a large piece of metal and a wire," he said. "During the contact with the suspicious person, an officer-involved shooting occurred. Santa Ana police officers started first aid and were relieved by Orange County Fire Authority paramedics (who) treated the suspect and transported him to Orange County Global Medical Center."

It is not known if the suspect was carrying a weapon or made a threatening move toward officers as of this report. The man died at 12:25 a.m. Monday morning, according to Bertagna. Authorities withheld his name, pending family notification.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office and Santa Ana police homicide detectives were investigating the shooting. Anyone with information on the case was urged to call Santa Ana police at (714) 245-8390.

Renee Schiavone, Patch Staff Photo