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Photo by Gustavo Castillo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Two men who were let go last summer after their arrest in a deadly shooting over gang graffiti near Anaheim when prosecutors declined then to press charges, were charged Tuesday with murder.
Edgar Ramirez, 21, of Anaheim, and David Steven Ortega, 33, have been charged in connection with the July 19 fatal shooting of 51-year-old David Bruce Douglas.
Ramirez was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, but court records do not indicate an arraignment date for Ortega, who is serving a sentence for a misdemeanor conviction for carrying a dirk or dagger.
The two were arrested in July, but prosecutors requested further investigation. Sheriff’s investigators at the time said they arrested Ramirez after consulting with the prosecutor, but further discussion prompted the request for more evidence, officials said.
Douglas was shot at Poona Drive and Lullaby Lane in an unincorporated area bordering Anaheim, sheriff’s officials said. Another victim, who was 39, survived the shooting injuries.
The victims, who were found in a Ford SUV, had been involved in a confrontation with at least one suspect about “tagging” in the area, sheriff’s officials said in July.
Prosecutors said the two victims “interrupted” the vandals, with the unnamed man following the two defendants on foot.
Douglas drove his SUV over to the other man and picked him up, and Ortega allegedly shot Douglas and the other victim as he got into the vehicle, according to prosecutors. The surviving victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the back of his head, prosecutors said.
Ortega, who was arrested again on Monday, was charged with murder with a special circumstances allegation of gang activity.
Ortega was also charged with attempted murder and faces multiple sentencing enhancement allegations for gang activity, shooting a gun, attempted premeditated murder and causing great bodily injury or death to the victims.
Ramirez was charged with murder and attempted murder with sentencing enhancement allegations for gang activity and vicarious discharge of a gun by a gang member.
–City News Service
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