Charlene Galarza lost a son in 2009, his death made headlines when he was shot by Santa Ana police.
A second son was convicted of first degree murder in a gang related shooting. Now as she mourns her eldest son's death, she is asking the same question police want answered.
"Is this a random act or a targeted victim? Or did they decide to run and he becomes a victim?" said Santa Ana police Department spokesman Anthony Bertagna.
Friends of Hugo Sanchez Jr., 34, say he may have gone down the wrong path before, but not now. He was shot while putting gasoline in his pickup in Santa Ana early Tuesday, police said. He was forced into his truck by two men, shot and left for dead about 300 yards away, police said.
It happened at 1:47 a.m. at a Shell gas station at 1501 E. Edinger Ave., Bertagna said. Surveillance video from the gas station shows two men approaching Sanchez and an ensuing confrontation, Bertagna said. The suspects forced the victim into his truck and made him drive away north before he was shot, Bertagna said.
The truck was found abandoned in the 1400 block of East Wilshire Avenue with the victim's body in the street nearby, in the vicinity of Century High School, Bertagna said. Friends said he was working in a warehouse, had just bought a new pick up and had driven his young daughter to start the school year just a few days ago.
Anyone with information was asked to call detectives at (714) 245- 8390. Orange County Crime Stoppers will accept anonymous tips at (855) TIP- OCCS.
