Shooting likely gang-related

A 28-year-old man was injured in a drive-by shooting on the Westside late Sunday, in an incident that police said may be gang-related.

At about 8:50 p.m., Roberto J. Romero was seated on the curb outside his residence in the 100 block of East Bay Street when he was struck by a single bullet from a passing car. Romero was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian with wounds to his arm and leg. He was treated and released.

Sgt. Don Holford said the attack was possibly gang-related, coming after a string of similar incidents in Costa Mesa this year.

“We’re obviously looking at investigating it as we speak,” he said.

Police described the vehicle as a black four-door Volkswagen Jetta with a driver and passenger inside. After the shooting, police were unable to locate the car and have identified no suspects.

The Sunday incident marked the fifth shooting in Costa Mesa this year, although police do not consider all of them gang-related. In February, a 21-year-old man was shot to death in a fight near Wallace Avenue and Hamilton Street. In early April, a 19-year-old man survived several bullet wounds in an attack on El Camino.

In May, four reputed gang members were arrested following the shooting death of a 20-year-old man, believed to be a rival, near Filmore Way. The most recent episode occurred earlier this month, when a 38-year-old man was found shot dead in an alley near Center Street. Police did not identify the latter case as a probable gang crime.

“It’s kind of high for our liking,” Holford said about the recent spate of shootings.

Over the past month, the Costa Mesa City Council has taken steps to fight the city’s trend of gang violence. Councilwoman Katrina Foley introduced a five-year plan in May to add two gang officers to the force, contract with a full-time probation officer and increase collaboration with other agencies ? including the Save Our Youth after-school center ? that work to keep youths out of trouble.

“They’re moving forward,” Foley said. “It can’t be fast enough, apparently.”

The City Council adopted Foley’s plan at last Tuesday’s budget meeting, allotting $303,551 for the gang-elimination measures.

“We need to be paying attention to this so that we do not have an increase in gang activity in our community,” Foley said. “This is something we need to put as a top priority, and I’m glad that at least the majority of the council is doing so.”