Two men charged in gang-related killing in Santa Ana

Two men were charged Monday with a gang-related fatal shooting of a rival gang member in Santa Ana.

David Angel Lopez and Anthony Garcia, both 20, were both charged with murder in the killing last month of 18-year-old Miguel Angel Benitez of Santa Ana, according to court records.

Police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation that contained four documented gang members, including Lopez, Santa Ana Police Department Cpl. Sonia Rono said.

Police were called about the shooting at 5 p.m. on Sept. 2 to the 1600 block of South Evergreen Street. When officers arrived they saw the victim with gunshot wounds to his upper body and paramedics rushed him to a hospital where he later died, Rono said.

Police suspect Lopez shot Benitez because they were rival gang members, Rono said.

Both are also charged with assault with a semiautomatic firearm, assault with a firearm and participation in criminal street gang activity, all felonies.

They also face sentencing enhancements for gang activity, discharge of a gun causing death, gang member vicarious discharge of a firearm, gang activity, and personally using a firearm. Garcia also faces a felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

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