Four dead in O.C.: No motive yet in slaying, deadly carjackings
Orange County sheriff's officials said they don't know what prompted a series of shootings across multiple cities early Tuesday morning that left at least four people dead and others wounded.
Authorities believe the violence began in Ladera Ranch, south of Mission Viejo.
The first call came at 4:45 a.m. reporting a shooting on Red Leaf Lane, where deputies discovered a woman shot dead at the scene.
PHOTOS: Shootings at multiple locations in O.C.
The suspect, described as a man in his 20s, fled the area in an SUV.
Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino said “multiple incidents” then occurred in Tustin and another at the Santa Ana border before the suspect apparently shot and killed himself in Orange.
“There’s a lot to sort out,” he said.
Tustin Police Lt. Paul Garaven said the suspect attempted to carjack multiple vehicles in Tustin, with each shooting occurring a few minutes apart.
Police received a report about 5:30 a.m. of a carjacking near Red Hill Avenue and Nisson Road near the 5 Freeway in Tustin, Garaven said.
The carjacking suspect opened fire and wounded a bystander, he said.
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Soon after that, another carjacking was reported near the 55 Freeway, Garaven said. The victim of that carjacking was killed, Garaven said. A body lay covered by a yellow tarp on Village Way near the McFadden Avenue freeway entrance.
Another shooting was reported on Edinger Avenue near the Micro Center in Tustin, Garaven said. Officers confirmed that another carjacking had taken place, he said.
One person was killed and another was taken to a hospital. Officers spotted the suspect in a stolen vehicle, followed him into the city of Orange and initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of East Katella Avenue and North Wanda Road, Garaven said.
The suspect then shot and killed himself, Garaven said. Garaven said there is “no threat to the community” because the suspect is deceased.
Bill Myers, who works at Allied Refrigeration at Edinger Avenue in Tustin, said he passed numerous police vehicles on his way to work early Tuesday.
The Micro Center, across the street from Allied Refrigeration, was roped off, and police were at the scene, Myers said.
Myers arrived at work at about 6:20 a.m. and said there was "a bunch of activity going on. It was pretty crazy."
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-- Kate Mather and Hailey Branson-Potts
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