Maria Del Rufugio Mora

Maria Del Rufugio Mora, a 36-year-old mother of three from Santa Ana, California, was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting. She was a devoted wife and mother to three boys, who were between the ages of 3 and 15 at the time of her death. A GoFundMe campaign was created to support her family, who was devastated by the sudden and senseless loss.

On the afternoon of December 4, 2022, Mora was in a parking lot at 1473 S. Main Street when gunfire erupted. Around 4:30 p.m., suspects in a white sedan began shooting at two teenage boys, who ran into the parking lot to escape. While the intended targets were not injured, a stray bullet struck Mora in the upper body. Santa Ana Police Department officers arrived to find her wounded, and paramedics rushed her to a local hospital in critical condition. Five days later, on December 9, 2022, Maria Del Rufugio Mora died from her injuries.

Detectives with the Santa Ana Police Department immediately began investigating the shooting, which they believed was gang-related. By analyzing surveillance footage and conducting witness interviews, they identified the suspect vehicle as a white Toyota Camry. This information led them to two suspects, Mark Remmers, 19, and Brooke De La Cruz, 24, both residents of the nearby city of Orange.

On December 15, 2022, authorities took both suspects into custody. Remmers was arrested in Costa Mesa, and De La Cruz was arrested in Orange. Police also located and recovered the Toyota Camry used in the attack. Investigators identified Remmers as the alleged gunman and De La Cruz as the driver of the vehicle. The two were formally charged with murder along with gang sentencing enhancements.

Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin described the case as one that “truly tugs at our hearts,” calling Mora “a true innocent bystander.” He stated that police were still seeking two other suspects who were in the car during the drive-by. As of December 2022, Remmers and De La Cruz were scheduled for arraignment at the Central Justice Center, and the litigation against them was pending. The investigation remains open, and police have urged anyone with information to call the homicide section at 714-245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.