Bullet Strikes Bystander in Elbow : Shot Believed Intended for Off-Duty Fullerton Officer

A construction worker in Fullerton was struck in the elbow Wednesday afternoon by a bullet apparently intended for an off-duty Fullerton police officer, authorities said.

Steven R. Cummins, 25, for whom police said they had no address, was listed in good condition at Martin Luther King Hospital in Anaheim with the fragmented bullet lodged in his elbow.

A 16-year-old Garden Grove youth and a man who reportedly was with the youth were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said.

Fullerton Police Sgt. Bud Lathrop said the youth, who was not identified because of his age, was booked into Juvenile Hall. Edward Carmona, a 20-year-old Santa Ana resident, was booked into Orange County Jail.

Gun Pointed at Man

According to Lathrop, Officer Sean Faris was driving home after a basketball game at Independence Park about 1 p.m. and noticed the youth pointing a gun at a man, whose hands were raised in the air. Faris, 21, a Police Academy graduate and officer of two months, pulled his car over to investigate, Lathrop said.

The threatened man, Takahiko Matsunami, told Faris that the youth and a man, who both had left the scene before Feris drove up, had “hurled racial insults” at him as they walked by.

The youth and man had walked for another two blocks before Matsunami, who had gotten into his car, drove up and confronted them, Lathrop said. Carmona allegedly pulled a screwdriver from his belt, Matsunami “assumed a karate stance” and “the 16-year-old pulled a gun out,” Lathrop said.

Suspects Spotted

As Matsunami lifted his hands in the air, Lathrop said, Faris drove by.

After parking his car and speaking with Matsunami, Lathrop said, Faris spotted the two suspects down the street.

“They stopped, turned around and pointed the gun at (Faris),” Lathrop said. “One round was fired, possibly two. It missed Sean but went clear across the street and hit (Cummins) in the elbow.”

Faris rushed into a restaurant to call other officers and discovered Fullerton police juvenile investigator Linda Rivera eating lunch, Lathrop said. Faris borrowed her gun and gave chase.

Lathrop said Faris caught up with Carmona after chasing him through two parking lots. The juvenile was arrested by other officers a short time later. Lathrop said a .22-caliber revolver was found when the youth was arrested.