A tragic shooting just blocks from Disneyland Resort has left an Anaheim neighborhood in mourning. Authorities have identified the victim as 25-year-old Kenneth Wayne Swets.
What Happened?
On the evening of December 8, 2024, Anaheim Police Department officers responded to reports of gunshots in the 2000 block of Margie Lane at approximately 8:42 p.m. When officers arrived, they discovered Swets with at least one gunshot wound. He was found inside a vehicle that was parallel parked on the residential street.
Swets was pronounced dead at the scene, and police have since launched a murder investigation. As of now, no suspects have been identified, and the motive for the shooting remains unclear.
A Community in Shock Near Disneyland Resort
Neighbors were stunned by the tragic incident, describing the area as typically quiet despite its proximity to Disneyland Resort, Disney California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney.
“I live right next door to where it happened, and my room is right next to the backyard,” said Kathryn Kelly, a neighbor of the victim. She described hearing gunshots and fearing for her dog’s safety: “My dog ran into the backyard, and I’m thinking my dog’s going to get shot, and then I didn’t hear anything else until my son came and said, ‘Mom, there’s crime tape next door.'”
Kelly remembered Swets as a “super good young man” who was kind and focused on his fitness: “Wonderful family, very sweet.”
The Investigation So Far
The Anaheim Police Department continues to investigate the case and urges the public to come forward with any information. Detectives are piecing together evidence from the scene and seeking leads to determine what led to Swets’s untimely death.
TikTok user @t.vmoments shared a KTLA 5 news clip showing footage of investigators working at the crime scene, where they combed through evidence on Sunday night.
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The lack of immediate suspects has heightened concerns for local residents, though police have not indicated any threat to the broader community.
Crime Near Disneyland Resort
For some Anaheim locals, the tragic shooting highlights broader safety concerns in the city, even in areas near Disneyland Resort.
“That’s why I moved out of Anaheim,” wrote @janetus21 in a TikTok comment. “Even though it’s by Disneyland, it’s getting horrible over there. Me and my family witnessed a dead man with a blanket at a park… cops standing there with yellow tape. It’s bad.”
Detectives urge anyone with information about this case to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.
