3 arrested in beating, stabbing death of homeless man in Santa Ana park

Two men and a woman have been arrested for the beating and stabbing death of a homeless man at Santiago Park in Santa Ana over the weekend.

The suspects, arrested Tuesday, March, 24, were described as transients who lived in the same area as the victim, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

Shortly after 8:20 p.m. Saturday, officers were called to an attack at the entrance of the park on Main Street. They found the victim bleeding from several wounds.

Numerous suspects were seen attacking the victim, later identified as Cesar Gamaliel Gonzalez, 39, and ran away before officers arrived, police said.

Gonzalez was taken to a hospital, where he died less than an hour later. Gonzalez was homeless and had been living near the park.

Bertagna said the suspects – Daniel Ruben Gallegos, 47, Gustavo Nunez, Jr., 32, and Lisa Marie Herrera, 41 – knew the victim, though he would not disclose what led to the attack.

Gallegos was arrested on suspicion of murder. Nunez and Herrera were arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.