On Monday, December 9, 2019, at approximately 8:45 p.m., officers from the Tustin Police Department responded to a report of a man down near the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Norwood Park Place. Upon arrival, officers located a male suffering from a single stab wound. Despite life saving efforts by the responding officers and Orange County Fire Authority personnel, the victim, identified as 62-year old David Nakaki of Tustin, succumbed to his injuries a short time later at a local hospital.
Tustin Police Department detectives began working tirelessly on this case and quickly identified a vehicle that may have been involved. After weeks of non-stop investigation, detectives located the vehicle in Santa Ana and positively identified it as being at the scene of the crime. As a result, two suspects were identified.
On Saturday, December 28, 2019, detectives from the Tustin Police Department arrested 19-year-old Miguel Orellana and 25-year-old Erika Pineda. Both suspects were booked at the Orange County Jail for CPC 187(a) - Murder. DNA evidence, witness statements, and outstanding investigative work led the Tustin Police Department to arrest both suspects for this heinous and senseless crime. It appears robbery was the motive.
- Miguel Orellana - 19-year-old resident of Anaheim
- Erika Pineda - 25-year-old resident of Santa Ana
If anyone has any further information regarding this case, please call the dedicated tip-line at (714) 426-2400.
Press Release by Lt. Andrew Birozy, (714) 573-3282, abirozy@tustinca.org