2 Guardian Angels Wounded by Gunshots From Party-Goers

Two members of the Guardian Angels were shot early Saturday as they tried to escape from an unruly crowd attending a party in Los Angeles, police said.

The shooting occurred while the victims, along with nine other members wearing red berets and white T-shirts, were patrolling an area near 29th Street and Western Avenue, police said.

Guardian Angels told police that five people who were leaving a dance hall pulled out guns when they spotted the patrol at 12:55 a.m. When the unarmed Guardian Angels tried to flee the crowd of 60 or 70 people, one or more persons began shooting, Sgt. Ron Brown said.

James Johnson, 15, who was shot in the back, was in serious condition Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The other victim, Eddie Lee, 21, was in fair condition at Cedars-Sinai after being shot in the arm.

There were no suspects in the case.

Yolanda Aguirre, a Guardian Angels spokeswoman, said the patrol was drawn to the party because they often end violently in that neighborhood.

“There was never an exchange of words; there was no real confrontation,” Aguirre said. “We were leery because the crowd was getting so big; all of a sudden they opened fire.”

Saturday night was the second time members have been injured while patrolling Los Angeles neighborhoods, Aguirre said.