[chris]

At about 10:29 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, a Santa Ana police officer tried to stop a speeding vehicle near Santa Ana Boulevard and French Street. The driver did not stop, and a slow pursuit continued for several blocks as the driver ran red lights.

The driver entered the parking structure at 450 East 4th Street, sped inside, and collided with an object. When the vehicle stopped, the male driver got out and dropped a firearm. He then walked toward the officer with his hands up.

The officer gave repeated commands for him to get on the ground. The man kept moving toward the officer, then turned and walked back toward the firearm. The officer repeatedly ordered him not to reach for it, and an officer-involved shooting occurred.

The man was struck by gunfire. Officers gave medical aid until Orange County Fire Authority arrived and continued life-saving measures. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Victor Lopez of Santa Ana. The firearm recovered at the scene was identified as a 9 mm Walther PDP handgun with 12 rounds of ammunition in the magazine. Lopez's criminal history includes an arrest for firearm violations with gang enhancements.