Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Gang Member Suspect In Fatal Hit-And-Run Turns Himself In
The suspect in a hit-and-run that killed two men in Santa Ana turned himself in this morning and was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.Jorge Ocampo, 21, surrendered at Santa Ana Police Headquarters at 12:30 a.m., Santa Ana Police Cmdr. Jeff Owens told City News Service.
KTLA reports that Ocampo is a documented gang member who was out on parole at the time of the accident.
He is suspected of being at the wheel of a black Audi that ran a stop sign and broadsided a blue Nissan around 11:30 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Cabrillo Park Drive and Fruit Street, police said.
The driver of the Nissan, identified as 53-year-old Santa Ana resident Alejandro Bravo, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Nissan, 50-year-old Juan Jose Luna-Castro, was pronounced dead at a hospital about 40 minutes after the collision, according to CNS.
Support for LAist comes from
Friends of the two men told KTLA they were on their way to lunch and to get supplies for a neighborhood party.
Ocampo, who is the registered owner of the Audi, left the scene. According to Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, he was speeding at the time of the crash.
Witnesses report that Ocampo got out of his car and tried to open the Nissan's doors. When he couldn't get inside the car, witnesses said he walked away while talking on his cell phone. Police tell KTLA that he called a friend to pick him up, leaving the two men to die.
Police initially reported that two suspects had been involved in the hit-and-run and later amended that to just one.
The two victims lived at the condominiums nearby, ABC 7 reports. Luna was a longtime groundskeeper there.
"He was such a fixture of the Redwoods," resident Kathleen Squires told ABC. "I'm going to really miss him."
Friends and family gathered Friday night at a memorial for the victims.
Support for LAist comes from
"I'm going to miss him. I don't even have words that can express how I feel inside right now," said Bravo's nephew, Bryan Ledesma.
Related:
2 Killed In Hit-And-Run Crash, Suspects Walked Away From Scene
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist