An O.C. transient was arrested for shooting another transient in the face

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OC Sheriff News Release

Today at approximately 6:35 a.m., deputies were dispatched to an unknown trouble call in an abandoned industrial building near Cerritos and Magnolia, according to the OC Sheriff’s Stanton Police Services.

Upon arrival, they learned that OCFA had been flagged down by a person requesting medical aid for an injured transient inside the abandoned industrial building.

They discovered a man who sustained a gunshot wound to the face. The suspect fled prior to deputies arrival.

The victim was transported to the hospital and remains in critical condition at this time. A search is being conducted for the suspect.

***UPDATE***

On March 19, 2025, Orange County Homicide investigators, along with North Directed Enforcement Team (NDET) and Stanton Special Enforcement Team (SET) members, located and arrested the male suspected of shooting the victim in the face.

A preliminary investigation revealed the suspect and victim knew each other and may have had a previous dispute.

The suspect, Freddie Martinez, 50, a transient, was booked into the Orange County Jail for attempted murder and is being held on $1 million dollar bail.

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Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions.

When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.