HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupplement Incident 2023-07973.011 Raya, Gerardo 3345_RedactedNarrative: Narrative
Friday, April 7th 2023
Santa Ana Police Homicide Sergeant M. Sarabia #2565 notified me of an officer involved shooting that occurred in the
area of Bishop Street and Rosewood Avenue, in the City of Santa Ana, CA. Sergeant Sarabia requested that I
respond to the Santa Ana Police Department and assist with the investigation.
The officer involved shooting was documented under case number 2023-07962.
It should be noted, during the initial canvass for surveillance footage of the officer involved shooting, it was discovered
via surveillance footage that a second shooting occurred. The second shooting which was documented under this
case number, 2023-07973, was captured on surveillance footage. Sergeant Sarabia assigned me as the case agent
RI WKLV DWWHPSWHG KRPLFLGH LQYHVWLJDWLRQ
Thursday, April 11th, 2023
After reviewing the initial crime report, supplemental repots and surveillance footage, I, Det G. Raya #3345 authored a
Ramey arrest warrant listing Dante Castro as a suspect in this attempted homicide investigation. On the same date,
+RQRUDEOH -XGJH 0 0XUUD\ -XGJH RI WKH 6XSHULRU &RXUW VLJQHG WKH DUUHVW ZDUUDQW 5DPH\
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023
I, Det. Raya was contacted by Castro's assigned Probation Officer, Elias Guzman, who stated Castro had responded
to the Orange County Probation Office as a term of his supervised release.
Det. Sandoval and I responded to the Orange County Probation Office, where we conducted a video recorded
interview with Dante Castro using our department issued body worn cameras. This is a synopsis of the recorded
interview, for further including exact statements and dialogue, please refer to the recorded footage which was later
uploaded into Evidence.com. I read Castro his Miranda Rights from the Santa Ana Police Department-Miranda Form,
verbatim. Castro replied, "Yes, sir" to understanding his rights as they were read.
During the interview, Castro was asked about his vehicle, a Chevrolet Suburban ( ). In a short response,
Castro attempted to state he gave the vehicle to a friend, he sold the vehicle and the vehicle was involved in a traffic
collision causing major damage. He then continued stating the vehicle was involved in the traffic collision and was
impounded approximately 6 weeks ago. It appeared Castro was attempting to distance himself from his vehicle. It
should be noted, during this investigation, it was determined Castro's vehicle was the suspect vehicle in this shooting.
I asked Castro if he remembered where he was on the day of this incident, 04/07/2023 and he stated, he was most
OLNHO\ DW KRPH DQG KDG DOUHDG\ JLYHQ KLV WUXFN DZD\
I showed Castro a photograph of his Chevrolet Suburban ( ), depicting the right passenger side. Castro
immediately identified the vehicle in the photograph as "my truck." It should be noted, that photograph was taken the
day after the shooting, when it was located unoccupied and parked in the area of 1500 W. 3rd Street, in the City of
Santa Ana, CA. I asked Castro about the bullet hole and traffic damage seen in the photograph and Castro confirmed
WKH GLVWLQFW GDPDJH ZDV RQ KLV YHKLFOH SULRU WR WKLV LQFLGHQW
I then showed Castro a still from the surveillance footage collected by Det T. Bell #3656 and Crime Scene Investigator
S. Romero #3670, which showed Castro walking away from where his vehicle was later found parked. Castro
identified himself, as the subject seen walking in the photograph. I directed Castro's attention to the timestamp located
on the surveillance still which showed the date and time as April 7, 2023 at approximately 19:09:04 (7:09pm). I
DGYLVHG &DVWUR WKH WLPHVWDPS ZDV DFFXUDWH DQG UHPLQGHG KLP ZH ZHUH DVNLQJ KLP IRU WKH WUXWK
Castro stated he did not want to be a suspect and wished to be an anonymous witness. Castro began stating he
would tell us the truth but he wanted to be released today. I informed Castro we could not make any promises and we
were only attempting to gain the truth. I showed Castro a still from the surveillance footage showing the two armed
suspects exiting Castro's vehicle prior to them shooting the victim. He continued to state he was not a suspect and
was only a witness. After a brief discussion and reminding Castro we were attempting to gain the truth from him he
finally told us the following:
Castro stated he was driving around with ", towards the "neighborhood." It should be noted, Castro later
identified as the suspect located in the front passenger seat of his vehicle. I know to be a
documented Calle Flores gang member with the moniker of "Menace." He stated when they arrived in the area, they
arrived on Pine Street and stopped near a residence he later identified as the Longoria residence. He said "all the
Santa Ana PD 2023-07973 Report by Raya, Gerardo 3345 3 of 5
homies were in front of the house." It should be noted, I know the Longoria residence of
to be a known hangout for Calle Flores and Delhi gang members. Castro stated upon arriving at the Longoria
residence, he was advised that something had occurred in the area, "down the street" and there was a male subject
running in the area. He described the date of this incident by saying there was a "shoot-out" with the "cops" moments
before. Castro identified "Victor Longoria Jr" as the suspect who entered the rear passenger seat of his vehicle. It
should be noted, I know Victor Longoria to be a Calle Flores gang member with the moniker of "Miklo." Castro was
then ordered, "Go, go, go" to locate the male subject. Castro stated he believed, they were possibly responding to the
DUHD LQ DQ DWWHPSW WR SLFN XS WKH XQLGHQWLILHG VXEMHFW
&DVWUR VWDWHG KH PDGH D OHIW WXUQ VRXWKERXQG RQWR 6KHOWRQ 6WUHHW IURP 3LQH 6WUHHW +H VWDWHG DV KH WXUQHG RQWR
Shelton, he identified the victim-Marvin Melgarejo, as "Martin" running in front of his vehicle. Castro stated his vehicle
was stopped at a marked stop sign, when he told the other suspects to look at the Melgarejo, telling them he believed
Melgarejo was shot. He described Melgarejo's arm was tucked into his body and he was possibly grapping his
stomach as he was running. It should be noted, Melgarejo was found with a gunshot wound to his left arm. Melgarejo
was running southbound on the east side of Shelton Street, while Quirino and Longoria were both seated on the
passenger side-front and rear of the suspect vehicle. Castro stated as he continued southbound around a traffic
circle, both Quirino and Longoria exited the vehicle armed with firearms. They both yelled, "Flores" and began firing at
Melgarejo as he continued running southbound. Castro stated he saw them shoot Melgarejo multiple times causing
him to fall to the ground. Castro stated he has known Melgarejo before either were affiliated to any criminal gangs,
saying they use to hangout together.
Castro stated when Quirino reentered the vehicle, Castro asked him "what did you do" and Qurinio responded by
laughing. Castro fled the area and make a left turn (eastbound) onto the next street, which is possibly Bishop Street
towards Flower Street. Castro stated as he approached Flower Street, they saw multiple police units responding to
the scene. Quirino and Longoria ordered Castro to continue to drive, saying "Go, go, go." Castro stated he eventually
responded back to the Longoria residence, where he ordered both suspects to exit his vehicle. Castro stated they
shot Melgarejo because he was wearing the wrong hat. He stated Melgarejo was seen wearing a "B" hat. He stated
Longoria and Quirino did not get along with either Brook Street or Bishop Street. It should be noted, I know both
Brook Street and Bishop Street to be criminal street gangs, in Santa Ana, CA. The members of these criminal street
gangs typically wear clothing to promote their respective gang, including clothing displaying the letter "B." However,
&DVWUR FODLPHG 0HOJDUHMR ZDV IURP QHLWKHU JDQJ DQG LQVWHDG FODLPHG KH ZDV IURP D FUHZ FDOOHG %.5
Using the surveillance still showing both armed suspects exiting Castro's vehicle, I pointed at the suspect exiting the
front passenger seat and described him as wearing a blue shirt, blue hat and plaid shorts. Castro confirmed that was
Daniel Quirino. The same Quirino who has been in a dating relationship with his sister-Aaliyah Castro. I then pointed
at the suspect exiting the rear passenger seat and described him as wearing gray shirt, dark shorts. Castro confirmed
that was Victor Longoria Jr. I asked if they were both affiliated with Calle Flores and Castro stated, "Yeah." Castro
stated Quirino and Longoria took advantage of him and "their opportunity" when speaking about the shooting. Castro
VWDWHG SULRU WR WKH VKRRWLQJ KH QHYHU VDZ 4XLULQR RU /RQJRULD ZLWK D ILUHDUP
Castro claimed after the shooting, he responded to Quirino's residence, which he described as a "halfway" house
near his mother's house, which I know to be located at . He stated he contacted
Quirino outside of the residence and began having a verbal argument about the shooting. Soon after the verbal
argument, Castro and Quirino engaged in a physical altercation. He stated he was upset due to Quirino involving him
LQ WKLV VKRRWLQJ
Lastly, Castro was shown an aerial Google Maps photo of the area where this shooting took place. Castro marked
where his vehicle was stopped at the time of the shooting, along with where the victim was positioned when he was
shot. Castro confirmed the Instagram account D.Chevy13 was his most recent social media account. Castro claimed
to never have brage
Castro initialed and dated all photographs shown to him during this interview. He also consented to a search of his
Chevrolet Suburban and signed a consent to search form. All photographs and forms were later booked as evidence
DW WKH 6DQWD $QD 3ROLFH 'HSDUWPHQW
At this point in the investigation, Castro was released via 849B.
Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 1456 Hours
Det G. Bodnar and I, Det. Raya responded to Tow and Mo's impound lot, located at 518 N. Poinsettia Street, in Santa
Ana, CA to conduct a search of Dante Castro's Chevrolet Suburban ( ). Prior to searching the vehicle, I
documented the vehicle's exterior with my department issued body worn camera and broke the evidence seals which
Santa Ana PD 2023-07973 Report by Raya, Gerardo 3345 4 of 5
were placed on all doors and trunk. Det. Bodnar and I searched the vehicle but found nothing of evidentiary value.
Investigation on going...
G. Raya #3345
Author: Raya, Gerardo 3345 BWC Activated
Santa Ana PD 2023-07973 Report by Raya, Gerardo 3345 5 of 5