| For Immediate Release Case # 06CF2256
October 22, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
“MOST WANTED GANG FUGITIVE” CONVICTED OF SHOOTING-MURDER OF RIVAL GANG MEMBER
SANTA ANA – A gang member formerly listed as the Most Wanted Gang Fugitive by the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) was convicted today of shooting a rival gang member in the back of the head while chasing the victim and his friends on a bicycle. Inocente Secundino, Jr., 27, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of special circumstances murder and one felony count of street terrorism. The jury found true sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity, the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and death, and murder committed for a criminal street gang purpose. He faces a sentence of life without the possibility of parole in state prison at his sentencing on Dec. 4, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-45, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
The defendant is a documented member of a Hispanic criminal street gang. At approximately 2:30 p.m. on July 17, 2006, Secundino was standing at the corner of Maple Street and Chestnut Avenue in Santa Ana with several other men. The defendant and his friends were approached by rival gang member Gerson Medel, who rode up on his bike and began a verbal confrontation demanding to know which gang the defendant’s group was from. Secundino responded by stating the name of his gang, flashing his gang hand sign, and announcing that he was going home to get a gun.
Secundino left the scene. Medel also left the scene and found two of his fellow gang members, including Steven Arreguin. The three then returned to the intersection and began chasing Secundino’s friend, who was still on the corner. During this chase, Secundino rode his bike up behind the victims carrying a firearm. Medel, Arreguin, and the third friend attempted to run away upon seeing the defendant, but Secundino got off of his bike and shot at the victims. The defendant fired three shots, hitting Arreguin one time in the back of the head, murdering him. The defendant then fled the scene.
Secundino was featured on SAPD’s website as the Most Wanted Gang Fugitive. He was arrested in May 2008 living in Coos Bay, OR., under the false name Javier Roman Osorio.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Chrisopoulos of the TARGET Unit is prosecuting this case.
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