Dispute leads to fatal shooting in Santa Ana; police say suspect confesses

A man admitted shooting a person found dead in Santa Ana on Monday, and was arrested on suspicion of homicide, police said Tuesday, July 21.

Juan Yepez Martinez, 31, of Santa Ana, had been arrested in connection with an unrelated case, and was interviewed by police, Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. He confessed that he had shot Carlos Sanchez Benitez, 40, also of Santa Ana, police said.

As a result, detectives served search warrants at two homes, Santa Ana Police Department officials said in a news release. They recovered a rifle at one of the locations that authorities believe was used in the killing. Investigators also found additional evidence at Martinez’s residence, which is near the site of the shooting.

Police had been dispatched at about 12:24 a.m. Monday to the 500 block of South Flower Street, where they located Benitez inside of a vehicle and suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper body. Orange County Fire Authority paramedics arrived, and declared him dead at the scene.

The victim and the suspect had been involved in an ongoing personal dispute with each other, Bertagna said.

Martinez was arrested late Monday evening and booked on suspicion of murder, police said.