Mother Struck, Killed By Stray Bullet In Orange County, 2 Arrested

SANTA ANA, CA — A young man and woman were arrested in the death of a 36-year-old mother who was shot by a round meant for two teenagers who were running from a drive-by shooting in Santa Ana, police said Sunday.

The victim was identified as Maria Del Rufugio Mora or Santa Ana, a mother of three children, authorities said.

Police were sent to a parking lot at 1473 S. Main St. in Santa Ana at about 4:30 p.m. Dec. 4. They found Mora injured with a gunshot wound to the upper half of her body, and paramedics took her to a hospital in "critical condition." She died as a result of her injuries on Dec. 9.

The Santa Ana Police Department said that two teenage boys were being shot at by people in a white-colored sedan. The two teens ran into a parking lot as they were being fired upon, and Mora was struck by a bullet. The two boys were not injured, authorities said.

"The circumstances surrounding this shooting are currently being investigated, however detectives believe the motive could be gang-related," police said.

Investigators used surveillance video and witness interviews to identify the sedan as a white Toyota Camry, leading to the arrest of Mark Remmers, 19, and Brooke De La Cruz, 24, on Sunday, authorities said.

Remmers and De La Cruz were taken into custody Thursday. Remmers was arrested in the 2100 block of Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa and De La Cruz was arrested in the 500 block of South Hill Street in Orange. The Camry was also found, authorities said.

The SAPD's Homicide Section urged anyone with information about the shooting to call them at 714-245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855- 847-6227.