Officers say the driver fled a traffic stop, entered a downtown parking structure and reached for a handgun before shots were fired.
SANTA ANA, CA — A man was shot and killed by Santa Ana police late Wednesday after a brief pursuit ended inside a downtown parking garage where, officers say, the driver dropped a handgun and then reached toward it as they issued commands. The shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. Jan. 28 near Fourth and French streets.
Police identified the driver as 18-year-old Victor Lopez of Santa Ana. The incident is under review by homicide detectives and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Authorities said Lopez’s girlfriend and their infant were inside the car and were not injured. Investigators remained at the Spectrum Condos parking structure into Thursday, collecting video and statements. The department did not release the officer’s name or the number of shots fired. The fatal encounter comes as the city’s new Police Oversight Commission begins reviewing citizen complaints this month, drawing added attention to how the agency investigates use-of-force cases.
Officers attempted a traffic stop about 10:29 p.m. near Santa Ana Boulevard and French Street, police said. The driver did not yield and continued for several blocks before pulling into the underground garage at 450 E. Fourth St. There, Lopez got out, initially raised his hands and dropped a handgun, according to police. “He drops the firearm. The officers attempt to give him commands not to pick up the firearm,” Public Information Officer Natalie Garcia said. “He picks up the firearm and that’s when the officer-involved shooting occurs.” Lopez was struck in the upper torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. A woman and a toddler remained in the vehicle during the confrontation, police said.
Investigators said they recovered a loaded Walther 9mm handgun in the garage. Detectives also noted suspected narcotics at the scene and were seeking lab confirmation. Police said one officer fired, though they did not specify how many rounds. The department has not said why the vehicle was originally stopped, and it has not released body-worn camera footage. Detectives canvassed the complex for surveillance video and witness statements and marked evidence inside the structure’s entrance ramp. Officials said the girlfriend and child were examined by medics and released to family members. No officers were injured.
The location sits on the edge of Santa Ana’s dense downtown, a few blocks from the city’s artists village and civic buildings. The parking structure serves a condominium complex where police said Lopez lived. Santa Ana police have investigated several high-profile incidents over the past year, and the City Council seated a Police Oversight Commission that began formally reviewing complaints in January. Advocates have pressed for timely access to records and video in critical incidents. While California law requires disclosure of certain police records after shootings, release timelines can vary depending on active investigations and any parallel criminal reviews by county prosecutors.
Under standard protocol, the involved officer will be placed on administrative leave pending internal and external reviews. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is conducting an independent investigation to determine whether any criminal charges are warranted. Police said they are preparing investigative materials for prosecutors and will forward ballistic and forensic reports as they are completed. The coroner’s office will conduct an autopsy and confirm the official cause and manner of death. Authorities have not announced any public briefing or town hall, and no court hearings are scheduled at this stage.
Neighbors who live above the garage described being startled by sirens and the echo of gunfire near midnight. Yellow tape blocked the Fourth Street entrance Thursday morning as residents navigated around patrol cars and evidence markers. “It was chaos for a few minutes, then it got very quiet,” said Maria Delgado, who said she watched officers secure the area from her balcony. Abraham Quintana of the Community Service Organization said the case highlights the need for meaningful oversight, adding, “We need to protect the Police Oversight Commission to ensure the community has a voice.” Police declined to answer additional questions about the initial stop, citing the ongoing investigation.
As of Thursday evening, investigators had cleared the scene and removed the vehicle. Officials said updates will be released as evidence is processed and next of kin notifications are completed. The district attorney’s review is underway; the next public update is expected after preliminary forensic testing and interviews are finished in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated January 30, 2026.