Tustin : Biker Sought in Fatal Shooting at Restaurant

Police were searching Friday for a motorcyclist in connection with a fatal shooting outside a Jack-in-the-Box restaurant.

The victim, Thomas J. Barbano, 24, of Santa Ana had been arguing with the motorcyclist at about 11:45 p.m. in the restaurant parking lot in the 14000 block of Newport Avenue, said Tustin Police Officer Terrie Richardson.

“After a brief exchange of challenges, the suspect just pulled out a gun and shot him,” Richardson said.

The single gunshot wounded Barbano in the left side of his chest, Richardson said. Barbano received first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene and was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he died at 12:27 a.m., she said.

Police have not yet determined the cause of the argument, she said, but were interviewing witnesses Friday and searching for the suspect, who was described as Caucasian, in his 30s, about 200 pounds, with blond hair and a beard. He wore a red headband, plaid shirt and blue jeans, and fled on a motorcycle with a silver fairing (a device used to reduce drag) and red gas tank, she said.