Shooting linked to later incident

Costa Mesa Police believe that a Friday night shooting on Harbor Boulevard, which left one man in the hospital, may be related to another incident in which a gunman threatened a pedestrian later that evening.

A robber accosted and seriously injured Andres Gonzalez, 29, in the parking lot of a check-cashing business in the 2200 block of Harbor Boulevard around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, police said.

Gonzalez, a Costa Mesa resident, was receiving treatment Saturday at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana for gunshot wounds to his upper torso and upper right arm after the robbery, police said.

The man shot Gonzalez with a small handgun before asking for money and his car, said Lt. Clay Epperson. Gonzalez yelled for help, and the suspect ran away empty-handed, Epperson said.

Later that evening, a 35-year-old man reported that someone approached him near 20th Street and Wallace Avenue, about a mile away from the scene of shooting, and drew a gun from the waistband of his pants, police said.

The man threatened the victim, repeatedly asking “what’s your problem,” before running away, Epperson said.

The suspect in the second incident did not ask for money and fired no shots, police said.

“It was somewhat out of the norm, as was the shooting incident, which leads us to believe it’s possibly the same suspect involved,” Epperson said.

The suspect in both incidents is described as a Latino in his 40s with a stocky build, wearing a gray baseball cap and carrying a small revolver.

Law enforcement officials are asking anyone with information about the suspect to contact the Costa Mesa Police Department.

The suspect could be armed and dangerous and should not be approached, Epperson said.

Reporter BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].