A 28-year-old Orange County man with two previous felony convictions faces life in prison for allegedly firing shots at undercover gang members inside an unmarked car last week, authorities said Wednesday. It was announced on .
The shooting occurred Nov. 21 in the city of Orange, according to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said Victor Manuel Trinidad spotted Orange police officers driving through a “gang area” and yelled, “What’s up, buddy, where are you from?” Then he grabbed something from his waistband.
The officers, who recognized Trinidad from previous contact with him, left the scene and returned 20 minutes later with an Orange County probation officer to locate a 28-year-old man believed to be in possession of a firearm. We conducted a search.
“Two officers quickly spotted Trinidad and he began walking aggressively toward an unmarked police vehicle and began throwing up his hands,” the release states. “When two orange undercover police officers got out of the car, Trinidad opened fire on the officers.”
Officers from both sides returned fire, but no one was injured during the gunfight.
The 28-year-old man, who was on post-release community supervision at the time of the shooting, fled the scene but was later found hiding in a closet at a nearby home.
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A bullet was later found in the door of the officer’s unmarked patrol car.
Authorities said it’s unclear whether Trinidad knew the men were undercover police officers, but he fired because he didn’t think they belonged to the area.
“This dangerous criminal didn’t care who was in that car,” said OC DA Todd Spitzer. “He fired to send a message that they didn’t belong in his neighborhood.”
Trinidad, who remains in custody, is charged with attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic weapon, discharging a firearm into a vehicle, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
He was also charged with attempted premeditated murder, discharge of a firearm, and felony personal use of a firearm.
If convicted as charged, he could face up to life in state prison.
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