A man has been beaten to death with a hammer and another is in custody in Costa Mesa.
Police were called to a parking area near Vanguard University shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday by witnesses who said they saw someone attack a man sitting in a car and then again after he got out of the vehicle.
Christine Santa Ana heard a man, angry and screaming. Then sounds of a horn randomly honking.
"Then I looked out the window and saw this guy hitting something in the car with a hammer. At first it didn't register," she said. "I saw him pull something out of the car which looked like a person. It was bloody so that's when I called 911."
Officers found the victim lying on his back in the parking lot.
Police say the presumed attacker ran off. When he was found, blocks from Costa Mesa Police Department, witnesses said the man with the hammer got into the Toyota Scion. Then he got out and started walking in circles before he was taken down with a police stun gun.
Authorities are trying to determine a motive for the attack and whether the men knew each other.
