Police Wound Santa Ana Man Who Fired Gun

SANTA ANA —  A gang member who shot at police during a foot chase was wounded when a police officer returned fire and struck him in the arm, police said Monday.

Steven Larry Trigeros, 23, of Santa Ana was taken to Western Medical Center-Anaheim and later transferred to Orange County Jail, Police Sgt. Bob Clark said.

Trigeros was first seen walking in the 300 block of East 17th Street at 11:14 p.m. Sunday night, Clark said. As officers approached him for questioning, Trigeros fled into an alley with an officer in pursuit, Clark said.

As the suspect ran, Clark said, he reached into his waistband and pulled out a revolver, aimed it at the officer and fired one round, missing the officer. The officer returned fire but Trigeros continued to run.

The suspect was captured after he was hit with a police car driven by the officer’s partner, Clark said. The car struck Trigeros and then crashed into a power pole, he said.

After the suspect’s gunshot wound was discovered, an ambulance was summoned.

A .32-caliber revolver was recovered and some narcotics also were found, Clark said.

Trigeros had arrest warrants outstanding from Orange and Riverside counties and was a member of a Santa Ana gang, Clark said.

“We didn’t know why he was running,” Clark said, “but it could have been the weapon or the drugs.”

Trigeros was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, officials said.

The Orange County district attorney’s office has initiated an investigation. It is routine for the district attorney’s office to begin an investigation for an officer-involved shooting that results in injury or death.