Man dies in officer-involved-shooting in Fountain Valley

A man was fatally shot in an officer-involved shooting during an investigation into a sexual assault late Monday, Jan. 20, police said.

Santa Ana police officers were in Fountain Valley investigating a case of sexual assaults on minors, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

At about 10:30 p.m., officers went to the suspect’s apartment, in the 10300 block of La Hacienda Avenue, and were let in by his mother, Bertagna said.

“(The suspect) sees the officers and tried to flee out of the back,” he said. “Officers caught up with him and there was a struggle.”

The man had a gun in his hand and during the struggle the shooting occurred, Bertagna said.

The suspect was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

On Monday night, investigators taped off a courtyard area of the complex, the Serena Vista Apartments, as they evaluated the scene and confiscated the suspect’s gun.

Santa Ana police, Fountain Valley police and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office are all investigating the shooting.