16-Year-Old Sought in Agoura Hills Ambush Shooting

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies are looking for a 16-year-old Agoura Hills youth who, authorities said, slashed the tires of a couple who had driven to his home to collect a debt, then waited for the car to break down before confronting the driver and shooting him.

Sgt. Irene McReynolds said the youth shot 19-year-old Todd Frey in the left cheek Wednesday evening after the two argued over a debt owed Frey. The suspect, whose name was withheld, may have been helped by two other Agoura Hills teen-agers, McReynolds said.

The incident apparently began when Frey and his girlfriend, 19-year-old Karen Sparks of Agoura Hills, drove to the home of the 16-year-old and tried to collect an undisclosed amount of money at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, McReynolds said. During an argument that followed, either the 16-year-old or his two friends slashed the tires of Frey’s Datsun 280-Z while it was parked in the 5200 block of Colodny Drive, she said. Sparks and Frey drove away a short time later, allegedly followed by the 16-year-old and his friends.

When the tires on Frey’s car fell apart a few moments later, Sparks walked to a gas station to call for help, McReynolds said. While she was gone, the three teen-agers confronted Frey, shooting him and leaving him lying in the 21800 block of Driver Avenue, McReynolds said. Frey, of Agoura Hills, was taken to Westlake Hospital with an apparently superficial cheek wound and was treated and discharged Thursday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

McReynolds said deputies were not yet sure of the size of the debt, or why it was owed. The 16-year-old is wanted for assault with a deadly weapon and his two friends are being sought for questioning, McReynolds aid.