Carjacking, Kidnapping Suspect Arrested

COSTA MESA —  The U.S. Border Patrol arrested an Inglewood man Monday night after he carjacked a woman’s sedan in Costa Mesa and then forced his girlfriend and their baby to ride with him to Mexico, police said.

Constantino Martinez Barranco, 21, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, carjacking and two counts of kidnapping, police said.

Barranco went to the Inglewood home of his estranged girlfriend and their 11-month-old daughter, fired a shotgun twice into the air and then shot the woman once in the thigh, Costa Mesa Police Lt. Ron Smith said.

“He’s of the mind, if he can’t have them, nobody else will,” Smith said.

He then drove the woman and the baby south on the San Diego Freeway until he had car trouble and exited on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa about 3:40 p.m., Smith said. In the first neighborhood he came to, he carjacked a woman’s Nissan and then forced his girlfriend and their baby to go with him as he drove to Mexico, Smith said. Barranco’s parents live near Tijuana, Smith said.

But the trio recrossed the border so Barranco could pick up some money being wired to him, Smith said. Border guards noted the license on the stolen car and arrested Barranco, he said.

The woman was treated at a San Diego hospital for her gunshot wound, which was not serious, Smith said.