SANTA ANA — A 22-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday and was immediately sentenced to 15 years in prison for a fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man in Santa Ana.

Alex Hernandez, who has been in custody since July 15, 2022, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a gun. As part of his plea deal, a murder charge with a sentencing enhancement for discharge of a gun causing death was dismissed.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to killing Luis Garcia of Santa Ana.

Police received a call at 1:13 p.m., July 11, 2022, reporting a man bleeding on the east side of the street at Grand Avenue and McFadden Avenue. Officers found him down in a driveway suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to his upper body.

Orange County Fire Authority paramedics arrived on the scene and took the victim to the hospital in critical condition. He died two days later, police said.

A 2022 police statement said the shooting appeared to be gang-related.

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