Suspects in alleged Southern California gang slaying charged with murder

A man and a woman from Orange County have been arrested in connection with an alleged fatal gang-related shooting last year, officials announced Tuesday.  

Officers with the Santa Ana Police Department responded to reports of the Aug. 26, 2024, shooting near 810 South Townsend Street just 3:30 p.m. where they found the victim, now identified as 32-year-old Santa Ana resident Erick Alegria, unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound.  

Medical personnel with the Orange County Fire Authority also responded to the location, but despite lifesaving measures the 32-year-old succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.  

The suspects, police said at the time, fled the scene in a silver 2013-2016 Honda Accord EX sedan with a sunroof, 10-spoke wheels and temporary California license plates.  

During their investigation, detectives said they identified 28-year-old Santino Javier Fausto and 26-year-old Stefany Vuelvas, both residents of Santa Ana, as suspects in the fatal shooting. “This investigation revealed that the suspects drove into rival gang territory, where Fausto exited a vehicle and shot a perceived rival gang member before fleeing,” SAPD investigators said in a news release posted to social media.  

On Feb. 12, investigators executed search warrants at multiple locations and took Fausto and Vuelvas into custody.  

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has since charged the pair with murder, as well as charges related to firearms and criminal street gang activity.  

Anyone with information about the ongoing investigation is urged to contact SAPD’s Homicide Section Detectives at 714-245-8390. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the Orange County Crime Stoppers Hotline at 855-TIP-OCCS.