Murder shocks small apartment complex

Andrew Edwards

A north Huntington Beach neighborhood remains shaken following the

fatal shooting of a man last week in an alley behind row of

apartments on Saru Circle.

Paramedics discovered the body of 29-year-old Martinez Garcia of

Huntington Beach behind a small apartment complex on Saru Circle

after responding to a call, Huntington Beach Lt. Janet Perez said.

The paramedics discovered Garcia had been shot and gave him first

aid, but he died in the alley, police said.

Paramedics alerted police, who arrested Luis Teodoro Ponce, of

Huntington Beach, on suspicion of murder after finding him in the

area. Ponce was taken into custody after police interviewed him and

confiscated a handgun they believe was used to kill Garcia.

Police believe Garcia and Ponce knew each other and lived in the

area around Warner Avenue and Newland Street but did not say what the

motive might have been.

Neighbors Gloria Lopez and her son Guillermo said they were

frightened that violence could hit so close to their homes. They

moved to Huntington Beach seeking a safe place to live.

“I moved from Garden Grove to here because it was so bad there and

I thought it would be better here,” Lopez said. “I’m scared, because

of [my] kids.”

Her son worried about the possibility of future crimes being

committed in the area.

“It’s kind of scary because you don’t know who might break in or

something,” Guillermo said.