Police are investigating as a gang homicide the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old girl who was riding in a car in Santa Ana.

Janet Jimenez was riding in the car with friends around Townsend Street and Monte Vista Avenue when someone fired into the vehicle late Friday night, striking her in the upper body.

The driver went to a nearby gas station and called for help, according to a statement from the Santa Ana Police Department.

By the time paramedics arrived, the girl was dead, police said.


The incident was being investigated as a gang-related crime, said Anthony Bertagna, spokesman for the department.

Anyone with information is asked to call Santa Ana Police Department homicide detectives at (714) 245-8390, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Police said they were offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of gang homicide suspects.