Man Shot and Wounded by Anaheim Police Investigating Human Trafficking Case

A man in his 30s was shot Monday by Anaheim police as they were investigating a scheme to ransom undocumented immigrants from Mexico.

Police were called about 11:30 p.m. Sunday by a family member of a human trafficking victim, Anaheim police Sgt. Shane Carringer said.

The suspects helped smuggle in undocumented immigrants and then held them for ransom an apartment building on Syracuse Street north of Lincoln Avenue, Carringer said.

Police put the apartment building under surveillance, and while officers were eyeing the location, they were approached by a man and a confrontation ensued, resulting in the shooting about 6 a.m. in the 100 block of North Syracuse Street, Carringer said.

The man, whose name was not immediately released, was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Carringer said.

Police later determined the man shot was part of the crew involved in the alleged smuggling scheme, he said.

Police were looking for the driver of a black Toyota Camry who dropped off the man who was shot as a person of interest, Carringer said. The license plate of the Camry is 8BXD306.

Police located the victim -- 17-year-old male -- who drew them to the location, as well as 10 other individuals who were in the apartment, Carringer said. Some of the people rounded up are victims and some are suspects pretending to be victims, he said.

Police have arrested a man in his 30s and a 17-year-old male on suspicion of kidnapping for ransom in addition to the man who was shot, Carringer said. The victims include a woman and seven other men in addition to the 17-year-old original victim, Carringer said.

Not all of the undocumented immigrants came from Mexico at the same time, he said.