HUNTINGTON BEACH : Witnesses Sought in Slaying at Party

Police issued a plea Tuesday for witnesses to come forward with information about last week’s slaying of a youth at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley.

Police said they think that the shooting was related to gangs, but so far no one has provided a description of a suspect.

Police Officer J.B. Hume said many of the teen-agers attending a birthday party at the club Friday night fled after the shooting.

“Many had gone before our officers could question them,� Hume said. “We’re hoping to reach some of these people and get some information. We’ll protect their identities.�

The shooting at 10:35 p.m. Friday killed Canh Van Tranh, 17, of Orange while he was attending a birthday party in the club at 19699 Education Lane. Tranh was shot in the back while in the midst of about 100 Asian-American party-goers, police said.

Details of the shooting are sketchy, but neighbors said the party-goers ran screaming from the club after Tranh was shot.

About two hours later, a car was driven by the club, and people inside fired shots at police. Officers subsequently arrested Jose Munoz and Enrique Hernandez, both 20, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on police officers.

Hume said police have determined that the drive-by shooting at police had no connection with the slaying two hours earlier.

“It was just something crazy,� said Hume, who added that Munoz and Hernandez remain in custody in lieu of $25,000 bond each.

Hume said anyone with information about the shooting of Tranh should call Detective Richard Hooper at (714) 536-5970 or (714) 969-2272.