A 23-year-old Fullerton man made his first appearance in court Friday on charges of gunning down a teen in a gang-related shooting in La Habra in August.
Joseph Derek Ornelas, who was arrested Thursday, is accused of killing the victim in a shooting just before 3 p.m. Aug. 19 on Pacific Avenue between Liberty and Euclid Streets, police said. The name of the victim, who is a juvenile, has not been released.
Police also arrested a male juvenile in connection with the shooting, but his name was withheld because of his age. He was being held without bail in Orange County Juvenile Hall, police said.
Ornelas was charged with murder, participating in gang activity, and possessing a gun in a school zone, police said. Ornelas also faces sentencing enhancements for gang activity, a gang member’s vicarious discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury or death. The school zone was Las Lomas Elementary, according to the criminal complaint.