Westminster Man Held on Suspicion of Killing Teenager
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GARDEN GROVE — A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of opening fire on a carload of teenagers, killing one and wounding two others, police said Friday.
Noel Jesse Plata of Westminster was being held at Orange County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail after being arrested earlier this week at a Santa Ana apartment, Garden Grove Police Det. Dale Walker said.
Plata is suspected of being the gunman in the July 7 slaying of 19-year-old Giao Nguyen at Galway Street and Garden Grove Boulevard, Walker said.
Nguyen was in the backseat of a sedan whose passengers were confronted by a gunman demanding to know the group’s gang affiliation, Walker said. A gunman fired four to six times, killing Nguyen and injuring two 15-year-olds in the car.
Plata allegedly had a handgun in his possession when he was arrested Wednesday, and Walker said it will be tested against crime scene evidence to determine if it is the murder weapon.
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