Buena Park / Fullerton : Man, Youth Wounded in Drive-by Shootings

One man was shot in the buttocks and a 16-year-old youth was struck by debris from a gunshot in two separate drive-by shootings Sunday night that police believe may be connected.

Arnold Serrato, 24, was struck by a single .22-caliber slug, fired at about 9:45 p.m. from a car traveling along the 6500 block of Berry Avenue in Buena Park, police said. Serrato was talking to two women in front of his house when four or five shots were fired from the passing car.

The two women, who were not injured, took him to La Palma Community Hospital, where he refused admission and left against medical advice, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Serrato described his assailant’s car as a brown Buick or Chevrolet Monte Carlo, police said.

About 15 minutes later, in the 2300 block of West Baker Avenue in Fullerton, a shot was fired from what witnesses described as a Buick Regal or Chevrolet Monte Carlo, police said. Fragments from the bullet or glass struck a 16-year-old who was slightly injured and did not require medical treatment, police said.

The youth, who was not identified because of his age, was standing with several friends by a couch on the sidewalk outside an apartment complex.

The youth told police he had “exchanged words” with the car’s occupants when it had passed through the neighborhood earlier in the day. He denied any gang affiliation.

Police said that they had no suspects in either shooting but that they suspect possible gang involvement in the Serrato attack.