3 Youths Shot in Southeast San Diego

Three teen-agers were shot Thursday night as they stood in the parking lot of a liquor store in Southeast San Diego.

Two of the boys were hospitalized in fair condition, and the third, whose condition was not immediately available, was undergoing surgery late Thursday.

Witnesses said the teen-agers were at Woody’s Market and Liquor parking lot near 38th Street and National Avenue about 8:35 p.m. when a white Ford Thunderbird with two Latinos inside pulled up nearby.

One man got out of the car and approached to within 50 feet of the youths, then pulled out a gun and shot at them.

One of the victims collapsed where he stood, another stumbled 30 feet and fell, and the other victim fell just outside of the door of the store, according to witnesses. The gunman and his accomplice sped off after the shooting.

Witnesses at the scene said the assailants shouted the name of a Logan Heights gang before speeding off, but police declined to say whether the shooting was gang-related.

One of the victims, identified by his brother as Valentin Gutierrez, 14, was shot in the leg. The ages of the other two unidentified victims were 16 and 18, acquaintances said.

The three victims were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center for treatment.

Two San Diego officers patrolling the area saw one of the victims lying at the entrance to the store and got out to administer assistance, police said.

When they did, an unidentified civilian got into the police car and radioed for an ambulance for the victims.