The suspect injured in an officer-involved shooting early Friday morning has been identified as Petrica Peter Muntean, a 24-year-old Anaheim resident. Anaheim Police Officers tried to contact Muntean in a parking lot at Harbor and Broadway around 7:10 a.m. that morning when they recognized Muntean from an incident the prior evening.
Around 8:30 p.m. Thursday night, Anaheim Police Department (APD) Officers responded to a disturbance between a woman and her adult son in the area of Lombard Dr. and Brewster Ave. The disturbance initiated in a vehicle, and when officers arrived, the 24-year-old son, Petrica Muntean, fled on foot. Officers observed Muntean stop approximately 25-30 yards away and place a handgun under his chin. Officers took cover and ordered Muntean to stop. He did not comply, ran away and eluded officers during a perimeter search.
When the officers attempted to contact Muntean Friday morning, he exhibited similar behavior to the incident the prior evening. He did not comply with officers and fled the scene. Officers followed Muntean, gave him verbal commands to stop, and utilized less than lethal munitions in an attempt to detain him. However, he continued to the 100 block of Seneca Cir., where an officer-involved shooting occurred. Muntean was struck by gunfire and was transported to a local trauma center where he remains in critical condition.
The officers involved were equipped with body worn cameras and the cameras were activated at the time of shooting. A BB gun which resembled a firearm was recovered at the scene.
As is customary, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office is the lead investigative agency. Concurrent investigations are underway by the APD Homicide Detail, Major Incident Review Team and the Office of Independent Review.
