Long Beach Man Faces Murder Charges After Traffic Collision and Shooting in Santa Ana
Photo: Antonio Lamont Triplett
A Long Beach man has been charged with murder after a motorist was killed by gunshot wounds near Santa Ana College.
At about 1:00 AM on Monday, September 16, 2019, Santa Ana police received reports about a traffic collision near 17th & Bristol Street in Santa Ana. Minutes later, they received another report about gunshots fired near Bristol Street & Washington Avenue.
When they arrived on the scene, located in the 1500 block of North Bristol Street, they discovered “a compact sedan disabled atop the shrubs separating the sidewalk and the parking lot of Santa Ana College. Officers also located an adult male down in the parking lot of the college suffering gunshot wounds to his body,” according to the press release.
Despite lifesaving attempts by paramedics, the man did not survive his injuries. The victim, identified as 29-year-old Osvaldo Garcia, was declared deceased at 1:10 AM.
Preliminary investigation led to the officers detaining five persons of interest—three in the city of Carson and two in Long Beach. One of the suspects, 49-year-old Antonio Lamont Triplett of Long Beach, was arrested, and two other suspects were placed in custody pending further investigation.
Charges for murder, second-degree robbery, and shooting at a car were filed against Triplett by the District Attorney’s Office on September 18th. If convicted, he could face a sentence of life in prison without parole. The two other suspects were not charged and will be released.
A motive for the shooting has not yet been released to the public, but it appears that the victim was targeted.
