8 Hour Standoff in Costa Mesa Leads to Arrest for Attempted Homicide
Photo: Stock Image
Written By: Reagan Ta
A Whittier man has been arrested for assault, attempted homicide, and firearms charges following a more than eight-hour standoff with law enforcements agents in Costa Mesa.
Luis Mendez Jr., 49, had a prior misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence and an active misdemeanor arrest warrant. Following the incident, Mendez faces charges of multiple counts of attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, assault with a firearm upon a law enforcement officer, and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Due to his domestic violence conviction, Mendez had been identified by the Armed and Prohibited Persons System as a person who possessed firearms and was later prohibited from owning them legally. On the morning of Wednesday, October 5th, special agents from the California Department of Justice and Costa Mesa police attempted to serve a warrant to seize Mendez’s firearms at a business located in the 1700 block of Monrovia Avenue. When law enforcement agents attempted to go inside the business, Mendez fired a gunshot.
The special agents and officers subsequently retreated to safety and deployed a drone to further investigate. After Mendez fired another shot toward them, officers made helicopter PA system announcements for the public to shelter in place. Surrounding businesses were also evacuated for safety.
Crisis negotiators arrived to attempt to communicate with Mendez. After over eight hours, Mendez surrendered without further incident. Neither he nor any officers were harmed during the incident.
Mendez was booked at Orange County Jail. One rifle, one shotgun, and multiple handguns were seized at the scene of the incident.
Attorney General Bonta said, “I want to thank our incredible agents and law enforcement partners in Costa Mesa. Each and every day, special agents from the California Department of Justice work to take illegal firearms off our streets and out of the hands of dangerous individuals. Today, Costa Mesa is that much safer, because of their brave efforts. I am incredibly relieved that nobody was hurt during this incident.”
Costa Mesa Police Chief Ron Lawrence also stated, “I want to thank our community for their cooperation and understanding as we worked to bring this dangerous incident to a safe conclusion. I also want to thank our allied agencies, especially the police departments of Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, as well as the California Department of Justice, for their professionalism and cooperation on this investigation.”
