A 28-year-old Orange County man with two prior convictions faces up to life in prison for allegedly shooting at police officers in an unmarked car last week, officials announced Wednesday.
The shooting, according to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, happened on November 21 in the city of Orange.
Prosecutors say Victor Manuel Trinidad saw the Orange Police Department officers as they drove through a “gang neighborhood,” and yelled, “What’s up mom, where are you from?” and grabbed something from his waist.
The officers, who recognized Trinidad from the first time they met him, left the area and returned 20 minutes later with an Orange County probation officer to search for a 28-year-old man, who they believed had a gun.
“The two police officers quickly saw Trinidad, who started walking angrily toward the unmarked police car and throwing his arms around,” the release said. “When the two Orange undercover officers got out of their car, Trinidad shot the officers.”
Both officers returned fire, although no one was hit or injured during the fight.
The 28-year-old man, who was on a community warrant after being released at the time of the shooting, fled the scene but was later found hiding inside a closet in a nearby home.
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A bullet was then fired from the door of an unmarked police car.
Officials said it was not clear whether Trinidad knew the men were undercover police, but that he shot the two because he did not think they were from the community.
“This dangerous criminal didn’t care who was in that car,” OC DA Todd Spitzer said. “He opened fire to send a message that they are not from his area.
Trinidad, who remains in custody, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, discharging a firearm in a motor vehicle and felon in possession of a firearm.
He was also charged with aggravated first degree murder, discharging a firearm and using a firearm personally.
If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison.
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