View Homicide and Robbery Crime Spree - Suspect Arrested (PDF)

PRESS RELEASE-

DATE: August 8, 2019

SUBJECT: Homicide and Robbery Crime Spree- Suspect arrested

LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: Multiple locations in Garden Grove and Santa Ana

DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: August 7, 2019 4:09 PM to 6:25 PM

VICTIMS:
Garden Grove Homicide Victim #1: Hauprich, Helmuth, 62-years-old from GG
Garden Grove Homicide Victim #2: male, Hispanic, 63-years-old, identity withheld
Attempt homicide stabbing victim #3: female Hispanic, 54-years-old, Insurance business
Attempt homicide stabbing victim #4: male Hispanic, 44-years-old, Chevron victim
Santa Ana Homicide Victim #5: Rioja, Pasqual, 39-years-old, Subway restaurant victim
Santa Ana Homicide Victim #6: Parker, Robert Ray, 58 years-old, security guard

SUSPECT: Zachary Castaneda, 02-06-1986, Garden Grove resident- IN CUSTODY

NARRATIVE:
On 08-07-2019 Officers from the Garden Grove Police Department and the Santa Ana Police Department investigated a homicide and robbery crime spree that started at 4:09 PM in Garden Grove and ended with the suspect’s arrest at 6:26 PM in the City of Santa Ana.

The incident started with a reported residential burglary that took place at an apartment complex located at 12162 Jentges Avenue in Garden Grove. The calling party called the police department to report his apartment had been burglarized and there was no suspect information. The victim said the suspect had fled the location after the burglary.

Prior to the burglary report call being dispatched, a robbery was reported at 4:23 PM at a bakery located at 13040 Chapman Avenue. The victim reported a male Hispanic suspect was armed with a gun and he just robbed the business. He was seen leaving in a silver colored Mercedes. Officers responded to the robbery to investigate.

At 5:04 PM, a person called the police department to report a stabbing with two adult male victims who were down in front of an apartment at 12162 Jentges Avenue. Officers arrived at the location and found one adult male victim on the ground outside of the apartment and another male victim down inside the apartment. Both victims had been stabbed numerous times. One male victim was deceased and the other victim was
transported to a trauma center where he later died from his injuries. Officers discovered this location was the same location as the pending residential burglary reported at 4:09 PM.

At 5:39 PM a person called GGPD to report a robbery at the Cash & More business located at 12845 Chapman Avenue. A suspect matching the earlier description from the bakery robbery threatened a customer inside the business and stole cash. A license plate for the suspect vehicle was obtained and broadcasted to area units.

At 6:06 PM a silent robbery panic alarm call was received from a business located at 12843 Harbor Blvd. This business was identified as Best One Insurance. The alarm company reported they had a live camera feed into the business and the alarm operator saw a female employee who was down on the ground and was profusely bleeding. Another employee inside the business said the victim had been stabbed multiple times. The
suspect in this crime matched the same description from earlier robberies. The 54-yearold female victim was listed in critical but stable condition at a local trauma center.

At 6:09 PM GGPD received numerous calls about another stabbing at the Chevron Gas Station located at 13321 Harbor Blvd. This location is about ½ mile away from the previous stabbing location. A male victim was attacked by a male Hispanic suspect matching the description from the other robberies and stabbing calls being investigated.

The male victim in this incident was pumping gas when he was savagely attacked by the suspect. The victim nearly had his nose severed off and was also stabbed in the back. The suspect was armed with large machete type knives. The suspect fled in a silver Mercedes south on Harbor Blvd. towards the City of Santa Ana. Bystanders and witness rendered aid to the victim until the police arrived. The 44-year-old male victim is in stable
condition with traumatic injuries.

At this point, GGPD officers were investigating all of the above crimes. Undercover detectives responded to the area to assist in the search for the suspect and suspect vehicle. A license plate was obtained for the suspect vehicle witnessed at several of the crimes scenes. A radio broadcast was sent to all police agencies in Orange County.

At 6:16 PM, Santa Ana police officers were sent to the Subway restaurant for an assault with a deadly weapon investigation. A male victim inside the Subway restaurant located at 3835 W. First Street was attacked by a male suspect and stabbed numerous times. The suspect in this crime matched the description in the earlier GG crimes. The stabbing victim later died from his injuries. The suspect fled in his vehicle after the attack.

At 6:25 PM, undercover GGPD detectives were checking business parking lots and located the silver Mercedes parked in front of the 7-11 Store located at 103 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. This location is across the intersection from the Subway restaurant. The undercover detectives immediately requested assistance from Santa Ana Police Department. One minute later, the detectives saw the suspect come out of the 7-11 store
armed with a large knife and a handgun. The undercover detectives ordered the suspect to drop his weapons and he complied. The suspect was taken into custody.

As the suspect was being arrested, customers inside the store ran out and told the detectives the suspect just stabbed a male security guard inside the business. Witnesses said the suspect disarmed the security guard and took his handgun. Officers found the gravely injured security guard who sustained multiple stab wounds lying on the floor inside the business. Officers immediately rendered medical aid and started CPR until
paramedics arrived on scene. The male victim was taken to a trauma center where he died from his injuries.

Weapons and evidence was recovered at the scene. The Garden Grove Police Department, the Santa Ana Police Department and the Orange County District Attorney’s office are working together to investigate and prosecute this case.

Detectives have not determined the motive behind the robberies or homicides. Castaneda will be arraigned in court on 08/09/2019.

Crime Time Line

  • 4:09 PM - Residential burglary of an apartment reported at 12612 Jentges Avenue. The suspect was unknown.

  • 4:23 PM – Armed Robbery at a bakery located at 13040 Chapman Avenue. Suspect was reportedly armed with a gun. Loss was cash.

  • 5:04 PM – Stabbing was reported at 12612 Jentges Avenue. Same location as the residential burglary reported at 4:09 PM. Two adult male victims died from multiple stab wounds. One male victim is 62-years-old. The other male victim has not been identified.

  • 5:39 PM – Armed Robbery at Cash & More business located at 12845 Chapman Avenue. Loss was cash.

  • 6:06 PM – Armed Robbery and attempted murder at Best One Insurance located at 12843 Harbor Blvd. A 54year-old female employee was stabbed numerous times. Loss was cash. Female victim is in critical but stable condition at a local
    trauma center.

  • 6:09 PM – Attempted murder at the Chevron Gas Station located at 13321 Harbor Blvd. A 44-year-old male victim was stabbed and had his nose nearly severed off. The victim is in stable condition at a local trauma center.

  • 6:16 PM – A male was stabbed in killed inside the Subway restaurant located at 3835 W. First Street, Santa Ana.

  • 6:25 PM – A male security guard was stabbed and murdered at the 7-11 store located at 103 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. The suspect took the victim’s handgun after stabbing him numerous times. The suspect was taken into custody by undercover GGPD detectives.

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact the Garden Grove Police Department and speak with detectives.

Carl Whitney, Lieutenant
Professional Standards Division / PIO
O: 714.741.5786 W/C: 714.741.5871 24 Hour: 714.741.5704