ANAHEIM : Shootout Victim Is Identified

A 23-year-old man who died earlier this week from gunshot wounds to his upper body was identified Tuesday by police as Cesar Molina of Buena Park.

Molina was found sprawled on the side of the road at Resh and Water streets about 2 a.m. Sunday after a shootout that erupted during a bungled robbery attempt, Anaheim police Sgt. Steve Rodig said.

He died several hours later at UCI Medical Center in Orange, Rodig said.

Police investigators said they believe Molina and several other men were trying to rob a couple coming back from a date.

The couple, whose names were not released by police, were standing at the front door of the woman’s house in the 500 block of South Resh Street when the men pointed guns at them and demanded money, Rodig said.

A confrontation followed, and the woman’s friend was shot in the back.

“He happened to be carrying a handgun, so he fired back at them,” Rodig said.

More than 15 gunshots were fired, Rodig said.

The woman’s friend, who suffered minor injuries, was later questioned by detectives but was not held because he acted in self-defense, Rodig said.

The other suspects who accompanied Molina are at large.