2 more suspects arrested in connection with fatal Tustin shooting

TUSTIN — Police today arrested two more suspects in connection with the gang-related slaying of a 16-year-old boy in Tustin.

The arrests of John Saway, 25, and Sarith Yin, 22, Tustin have led investigators to believe they have rounded up everyone allegedly involved in the death of Juan Carlos Rodriguez. Rodriguez, 16, was shot about 2 a.m. Sunday at a house party in the 15800 block of Myrtle Avenue, Lt. Tom Tarpley said.

"We feel at this time we have all the primary players in this,'' he said.

Saway, a transient, and Yin, of Santa Ana, were booked on suspicion of murder. Tustin investigators will ask prosecutors to also file a gun use allegation against them, Tarpley said.

Four other suspects have been charged with murder in connection with Rodriguez's death, according to court records. They are: Steven Kao, 21, of Santa Ana; Ravy Nhem, 20, of Santa ana; Pablo Kachirisky, 21, of Santa Ana; and David Escobar, 20, of Murrieta.

The four, who are being held without bail, appeared in court Thursday but had their arraignments postponed to Feb. 5.

In addition to murder, they each face a street terrorism charge and sentencing enhancement allegations of criminal street gang activity, belonging to a gang and vicarious discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, court records show.

Tustin police also arrested, Karinna Hernandez, 21, on suspicion of being an accessory to murder, Tarpley said. She remains in custody, with bail set at $1 million.

Authorities have not revealed who they believe fired the deadly shot.

Nhem and Kachirisky were walking past the party when someone in Rodriguez's group of friends asked them what gang they belonged to, Sgt. Jeff Blair said.

The men, who are allegedly affiliated with an area gang, made a cell phone call for back up from fellow gang members, Blair said.

Kao and Escobar answered the call and the four got into a shouting match with the partygoers, Blair said. The four eventually left and went to get guns and reinforcements, he alleged.

A 19-year-old woman from Anaheim who prosecutors so far have declined to charge, allegedly accompanied the four men as they returned to the party and fired into the crowd of partygoers, Blair said.

Rodriguez was shot in the upper back, Blair said.

About 4 a.m. Sunday, police received an anonymous call about a gunshot victim in a home near the shooting, Blair said. The teen's body was found in the house, he added.

Over the next couple of days, about 100 officers talked to witnesses and served search warrants in Santa Ana, Anaheim and Murrieta before making the first arrests on Tuesday, Blair said.

On Thursday night, Tustin police, with help from helicopter crews from the Costa Mesa police and Los Angeles County Sheriff's departments, searched for Saway and Yin, Tarpley said.

The helicopters were needed because Saway does not have a permanent residence and moves around a great deal, Tarpley said. Long Beach police also assisted when both suspects were arrested in a car in that city about 12:30 this morning, according to Tarpley.