On October 8, 2023, at about 11:57 PM, Santa Ana police found 26-year-old Gonzalo Carlos inside his vehicle in the 2300 block of West 5th Street, suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper torso. Emergency personnel pronounced Carlos dead at the scene. Investigators say he was shot, lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a fence.

Detectives from the Santa Ana Police Department’s Homicide Section gathered evidence and sought witnesses. On December 6, 2023, authorities arrested 22-year-old Adrian Ayala of Santa Ana in connection with the killing; two days later the Orange County District Attorney filed a felony complaint charging Ayala with murder under California Penal Code 187(a) and related aggravating counts. Ayala remains in custody awaiting trial.

Police do not believe the incident was gang-related, though the case is eligible for the Gang Reward Program. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Ana Homicide Section at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Did anyone in the area see or hear anything on the night of October 8 that could help?