Man Convicted In Drive-By Shooting That Hurt 13-Year-Old Girl

WESTMINSTER, CA — A 29-year-old gang member has been convicted of a drive-by shooting from a tow truck in Santa Ana that wounded a 13-year-old girl and a man, according to court records obtained Thursday.

Jesus Angel Lopez was convicted Wednesday of three counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a firearm and inflicting great bodily injury.

Lopez was acquitted of one count of attempted murder with a sentencing enhancement for attempted premeditated murder and discharge of a firearm. Jurors deadlocked 11-1 on three other counts of attempted murder with sentencing enhancements for attempted premeditated murder and gun use in the attack, prompting a mistrial on those counts.

Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced May 3 when a judge will also be asked to confirm his prior convictions, which will factor into the defendant's punishment. According to court records, Lopez pled guilty in March of 2019 to possession of a firearm by a felon, an active gang member having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of a firearm in school zones, active participant in a gang carrying a loaded firearm in public, being a prohibited person owning ammunition and participating in gang activity, all felonies, with sentencing enhancements for gang activity.

Lopez also pleaded guilty in January of 2015 to possession of a short- barreled shotgun with a sentencing enhancement for gang activity.

On Jan. 16, 2021, Lopez was driving a tow truck by a group of people in front of apartments at 980 W. Bishop St. when he opened fire about 1:10 a.m., according to a trial brief from Deputy District Attorney Mallory Miller.

A 13-year-old girl sustained a gunshot wound to her thigh and a 20- year-old man was shot in the foot, Miller said. Two other males were in the group.

Police later found the tow truck at 802 S. Parton St. with the front passenger window shattered and shell casings inside containing his DNA, Miller said. A bullet was lodged in the passenger-door handlebar. And a wallet was recovered containing his girlfriend's bank cards.

Lopez contacted his boss to report the truck had been stolen and said that someone shot at him and he got scared, Miller said.

Lopez also attempted to get his birth certificate sent to him at the border of Mexico and was arrested March 3, 2021, at the San Ysidro border, Miller said.

According to body-worn camera from officers who responded to a domestic violence incident with the defendant he said he had a falling out with the gang on Bishop Street, Miller said.