Two men and a woman face charges stemming from the fatal beating of a fellow transient in Santiago Park last weekend.
Daniel Ruben Gallegos, 47, is charged with murder and Gustavo Nunez Jr., 32, and Lisa Marie Herrera, 41, are charged with assault with a deadly weapon, according to the criminal complaint filed Tuesday.
The three are homeless, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
They are accused in the beating death of 39-year-old Cesar Gamaliel Gonzalez, who was also homeless, Bertagna said.
Police were called to the park about 8:20 p.m. Saturday regarding a report of numerous people assaulting a victim near the entrance to the park at Main Street and Walkie Way, Bertagna said.
Gonzalez was profusely bleeding and had multiple wounds to his upper body when officers arrived, Bertagna said. The victim was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:13 p.m. Saturday.
Gonzalez knew his attackers, according to Bertagna. He said the group frequented the area around the park and some “inner conflict” among the transients led to the beating.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim was beaten with a metal pipe.
Gallegos has a prior conviction for robbery and burglary in April 1991. Nunez has a prior conviction for robbery with a gang enhancement in March 2010, and Herrera was convicted in January 2006 of car theft and burglary, according to the complaint.
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