Alleged Fashion Island Shooter Remains Behind Bars

A 42-year-old Garden Grove man accused of shooting more than 50 rounds over the weekend in Newport Beach, a day after remains behind bars today as investigators continue to decipher the motive, police said.

Marcos Sarinana Gurrola, being held in lieu of $250,000 bail, was moved late Saturday from the Newport Beach jail to the Orange County Jail. He was arrested Saturday on suspicion of shooting at an inhabited dwelling after police say he fired 50 shots in the parking lot outside Macy’s at Fashion Island.

Newport Beach Police Deputy Chief David McGill told the Los Angeles Times Gurrola was "venting his life problems." OC jail records show Gurrola works as a patrolman and is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday.

Newport Beach Police Department spokeswoman Kathy Lowe says the investigation is continuing.

"We are investigating a possible motive and at this time have not identified a motive for Gurrola’s actions," Lowe said.

According to police, dispatchers received multiple calls of gunfire at 4:35 p.m. Saturday on the east side of the lot outside the Macy’s. Bicycle officers who patrol the area arrived quickly and took the gunman into custody without incident, said Lowe.

No one was injured in the shooting, but one person suffered minor injuries trying to get away from the area. No property damage was reported, Lowe said.

Resident Donita Culbertson said when the shooting occurred, her 12-year-old daughter was standing at the entrance of Macy's with her friend and yelled, "run, shots fired!" The girls ran through the store and up the stairwell to the top of the parking garage and hid in a stranger's car.

"There were two ladies they encountered and thank God for those ladies. They hid five little girls in their car. I know one of their names is Julie and I have no way of finding them to thank them with all my heart," Culbertson said. "I know these little girls, ages 12-14 were terrified, and they were just as scared to get into a car with strangers. In the circumstance I feel they did exactly the right thing."

Culbertson and her daughter weren't the only ones with rattled nerves after Saturday's shooting in Newport Beach. With the shooting of 20 Connecticut schoolchildren 24 hours before the Fashion Island shooting, many people were still uneasy.

"It makes you feel like you are really not safe anywhere," resident Natalie Solero said. "Shootings can happen anywhere and it seems like they are happening out in the public so much now."