Santa Ana Beating Victim Dies

Friends and family gathered Tuesday at a roadside memorial to mourn the loss of Kim Pham who was brutally beaten early Saturday morning outside of The Crosby in Downtown Santa Ana. / Liz Monroy / el Don

By C. Harold Pierce

A 23-year old Westminster woman who was brutally beaten early Saturday morning in front of a nightclub in Downtown Santa Ana died from injuries today at St. Joseph Hospital.

Kim Pham, who was hospitalized in critical condition Saturday was removed from life support and pronounced dead at 12:36 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

Pham remained on life support while waiting to donate her organs, according to a Facebook post from Pham’s sister, Katie Nguyen.

Friends and family lit candles, laid flowers and left notes for Pham at a roadside memorial Tuesday night outside of The Crosby.

Those who knew the Chapman University psychology student describe her as caring with a bubbly and radiant personality.

“She had a way where when she talked to you, she’d make you feel close to her. My dog passed away and she came over and stayed the night just so I didn’t have to be alone. She was just that kind of girl. She was always there, day or night,” said Vy Dao, who attended Marina High School with Pham.

Others who attended the memorial but did not personally know Pham questioned the safety of Downtown Santa Ana in light of the incident.

“Now that I know this is going on, I don’t feel safe. A lot of my friends hang out around here, but I never have, and now that I know that this happened, I don’t want to come out,” Libby Martinez, a Santa Ana resident said.

Pham was beaten unconscious at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday after she got into an argument with a group of people waiting in line at The Crosby in Downtown Santa Ana.

One suspect, a Santa Ana woman in her 20s, was taken into custody Monday morning on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and causing great bodily injury after a series of videos led police to her arrest, said Santa Ana Police Information Officer Anthony Bertagna.

Four other suspects, including two men and two women are still at large.

Downtown Inc., a group of Downtown Santa Ana business owners, is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those involved in the melee.

Police are requesting that anyone with information about the incident including photos or videos contact their office at (714) 245-8390 or anonymously at Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS

Updated Jan. 21 at 11:21 p.m.