Man Fatally Shot After Traffic Dispute

SANTA ANA — A man was shot to death after he argued with another driver who had been tailgating him, Santa Ana police said Friday.

Mario Orejel Martinez, 25, was driving on South Ross Street at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday when he noticed a car was tailgating him, Sgt. T.G. Sawyer said.

When the car passed, Martinez followed it, Sawyer said. Both drivers pulled to the side of the road in the 900 block, got out and began to argue.

A passenger in Martinez’s car later told police that the other driver began to run, but Martinez chased him. The driver then pulled out a gun and fired six shots, three of which hit Martinez, Sawyer said.

Martinez’s passenger took him to Coastal Communities Hospital, where he died, Sawyer said.

The gunman is still at large, and police and family members said they had no idea who he is.

“We just want the person who did it to get caught,” Martinez’s wife said.

Relatives of the slain man gathered at his Santa Ana home Friday to comfort his widow and four children.

Mrs. Martinez said her husband was self-employed.

“He fixed cars, clothes, anything,” she said.