An alarming trend: two killed in another officer-involved shooting in Santa Ana

SANTA ANA, CA (CNS) - An investigation was underway Friday into an officer-involved-shooting in Santa Ana, where two suspects were killed and two others arrested, authorities said.

The shooting took place about three miles from where an officer-involved gun battle was fought Wednesday, leaving a suspect wounded and a detective with a graze injury to his head.

No officers were injured in Thursday's shooting, which was reported about 5:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of East Fourth Street, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

It was not immediately clear what led up to the shooting. The names of the two dead men were withheld pending family notification.

Two other suspects were taken into custody, according to a report from the scene, where the suspects' covered bodies were visible. Their names were not immediately released by police.

"We're seeing more guns,'' Bertagna told reporters at the scene. "We're seeing more robberies. We're seeing more gangsters carrying guns and not afraid of using them.''

The uptick in gun violence this year has unsettled the city and authorities. "We're seeing a lot of gang activity, a lot of shootings,'' Santa Ana police Chief Carlos Rojas told reporters Thursday night. "There have been 50
shootings in Santa Ana so far this year.''

This latest shooting occurred about three miles from the 2700 block of West McFadden Avenue, where Wednesday's gun battle occurred.

Carlos Michael Rodriguez, 30, of Santa Ana, a documented gang member who was paroled Sept. 27 after eight years in prison for assault with a gun on a Santa Ana police officer, remains hospitalized as a result of wounds he suffered in Wednesday's gun battle.

Rodriguez is suspected of opening fire on a detective who approached him during a "proactive enforcement'' in the area, which has seen a rash of gang violence in recent weeks, Bertagna said.

Rodriguez will be booked on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer, possession of a gun within a school zone, being a gang member in possession of a gun and possession of a concealed weapon, according to police.

It was not immediately clear if the officer-involved shootings Wednesday and Thursday were connected. Both shootings were being investigated by the Santa Ana Police Department and the Orange County District Attorney's Special Assignment Unit, which is standard practice in all OIS incidents.

From Victoria Spilabotte: