Gang Ties Suspected in Church Ambush : Three Youths at Dance Wounded, One Critically, in Shooting

Three teen-agers attending a Friday evening church dance in Whittier were injured, one critically, in an ambush-style shooting that authorities said may have been retaliation for a gang-related killing earlier this month.

Ralph Ambriz, 17, of the unincorporated area of Whittier, was in critical condition on life-support systems at Whittier Community Hospital Saturday with a gunshot wound to his head, Lt. Don James of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said.

Mario Ambriz, 16, Ralph’s brother, was wounded in his right forearm, and Guillermo Rodriguez, 16, suffered an abdominal wound, James said. Both youths, who live in the unincorporated area of Whittier, were taken to Whittier Presbyterian Hospital and are expected to recover from their injuries, James said.

Shots From Nearby Hill The incident occurred at 10:30 p.m. outside St. Gregory the Great Church, where 300 to 400 teen-agers were attending a dance, said Sgt. Richard Bukowiecki, another sheriff’s spokesman.

“The victims were standing in the parking lot of St. Gregory Church when four shots rang out, apparently from a northeast hill overlooking the parking lot,” Bukowiecki said. “All three victims fell to the ground until the shooting ceased. The weapon was possibly a rifle.”

Witnesses reported seeing “several male juveniles running from the location,” Bukowiecki said.

Authorities are investigating whether the victims of Friday’s shooting might be involved with a gang suspected of killing John Hernandez, 27, of La Mirada, in a shooting Jan. 5 at Imperial Highway and Shoemaker Road near Whittier, James said. “There is some feeling this incident at the church was a payback for his murder,” he said.

Some witnesses to Friday’s incident said that the victims are affiliated with a gang, but “that has not been confirmed at this point,” James said.

The case is being handled by homicide investigators because of the condition of Ralph Ambriz, who suffered a gunshot wound at the base of the skull, James said. “It is felt that it most likely will become a homicide,” he said.

No suspects were in custody but at least four investigators were working on the case Saturday, James said.

“We’re getting quite good cooperation from the community,” James added. “I think the fact that this happened at a church offended quite a number of people who aren’t ordinarily offended by this type of activity . . . So I hope some of these leads pan out.”

The Rev. Donald Ruddy, pastor at St. Gregory, said the dance was sponsored by the church’s youth ministry program.

Youth ministry leaders have hoped “through these activities to get young people interested in their regular activities, when they have Bible study, group discussions, retreats, things like that . . . and it’s also to provide some entertainment for young people on a Friday evening,” the minister added.

Rev. Ruddy said Friday evening dances have been held monthly for about six months, and that while there have been a few scuffles that were broken up by security guards, he knew of no serious incidents or any gang-related activity at previous dances.