Four Charged with Gang-Related Murder of Anaheim Security Guard

Four individuals from Los Angeles have been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of security guard Salvador Ramirez outside an Anaheim bar in June 2025. The Orange County Sheriff's Department announced the arrests, noting that the charges include a special-circumstance allegation of gang activity. This development follows an intensive investigation into the early morning incident.

Salvador Ramirez, a 48-year-old resident of Fountain Valley, was performing his duties as a security guard at 99 Bottles & Cocktails, located on Katella Avenue in an unincorporated area of Anaheim, when the shooting occurred. The incident took place just before 1 a.m. on June 22. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, Ramirez succumbed to his injuries, marking a tragic loss for his community and family.

Authorities identified and arrested David Anthony Ortega, 44, Rene Jose Juarez Jr., 37, Max Maestas, 54, and Robert Allen Duncan, 43, on August 13, 2025. All four suspects are residents of Los Angeles. The swift action by investigators led to their apprehension in connection with the killing of Mr. Ramirez.

On August 15, prosecutors formally filed charges against the four men. These charges include murder, accompanied by a special-circumstance allegation of gang activity. Furthermore, the defendants face potential sentencing enhancements due to the alleged involvement of gang members in the vicarious discharge of a firearm that resulted in great bodily injury, underscoring the severity of the accusations.

Public records reveal prior criminal convictions for two of the accused. David Anthony Ortega has a history that includes assault with a deadly weapon from 1995 and multiple robbery convictions in 2012 and 2017 within Los Angeles County. Max Maestas was previously convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Los Angeles County in 1993. These past offenses contribute to the context of the current gang-related allegations.

The four defendants appeared for their arraignment on August 15 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, where they did not enter pleas. They are scheduled for a subsequent arraignment on September 5, 2025, at the same location, as legal proceedings continue to unfold in this high-profile case. The investigation remains active, with authorities urging anyone with further information to come forward.