A 28-year-old man from Orange County with two previous felony convictions is facing life in prison for allegedly firing on undercover gang officers in an unmarked car last week, officials announced Wednesday.
The shootout, according to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, unfolded on Nov. 21 in the city of Orange.
Prosecutors say Victor Manuel Trinidad spotted the Orange Police Department officers as they were driving through a “gang neighborhood,” and shouted, “What’s up, homie, where you from?” and grabbed something from his waistband.
The officers, who recognized Trinidad from prior contact with him left the area and returned 20 minutes later with an Orange County probation officer to conduct a search on the 28-year-old, who they believed to be armed with a firearm.
“The two officers quickly located Trinidad, who began aggressively walking toward the unmarked police vehicle and throwing up his hands,” the release stated. “As the two undercover Orange officers got out of their vehicle, Trinidad opened fire on the officers.”
Both officers returned fire, though no one was hit or injured during the gunbattle.
The 28-year-old, who was on post-release community supervision at the time of the shooting, fled the scene but was later found hiding inside a cabinet of a nearby home.
A bullet was later recovered in the door of the officers’ unmarked patrol vehicle.
Authorities said it was unclear if Trinidad knew the men were undercover police officers, but that he fired on the pair because he didn’t think they belonged in the area.
“This dangerous criminal didn’t care who was in that car,” O.C. DA Todd Spitzer said. “He opened fire to send a message that they didn’t belong in his neighborhood.”
Trinidad, who remains in custody, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, discharging a firearm at a vehicle and a felon in possession of a firearm.
He was also charged with felony enhancements of attempted premeditated murder, discharge of a firearm and personally using a firearm.
If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison.