2 people killed in SUV speeding away from Anaheim restaurant shooting – Orange County Register

No injuries were reported after gunshots were heard at an Anaheim restaurant early Monday morning, February 21, but two people in an SUV suspected of fleeing the scene died after it hit an electric pole.

The accident happened shortly after police received a call about shots being fired at El Cangrejo Nice, 1739 W. La Palma Ave. at 12:12 a.m., Anaheim police Sgt. Shan Carringer said. When security at the restaurant refused to let a group of three men in their 30s, one of them produced a shotgun and fired multiple shots.

“The restaurant does a lot of business because it’s open late,” says Carringer. “It will be packed on a weekend night.”

Carringer said more than a dozen witnesses said they saw three men flee into two cars. The gunman and another person got into a black SUV and left the restaurant parking lot as soon as officers arrived, Carringer said.

Carringer said the third was intercepted before he could leave and was detained. He was released after investigators learned he was not responsible for the shooting and had only recently met two other men.

Two other people have caused riots at the restaurant before, Carringer said.

The SUV they sped through ran a red light at Brookhurst and La Palma Avenue, then crashed into a traffic signal on the northwest corner. Both men were killed almost immediately, Carringer said.

The engine compartment and the front half of the passenger compartment of the vehicle were smashed and separated, as seen in footage captured by OnScene TV. The pole it hit was still standing, tucked into the rear seats and protruding from the roof of the SUV.