Man Arrested in Auto Shooting; 3 More Reported

California Highway Patrol officers arrested a freeway shooting suspect Tuesday, three more attacks were reported and a $25,000 reward was posted for the arrest and conviction of any shooter involved in Southern California’s spate of roadway violence.

“I don’t understand why anyone would do this,” said Tony Barone, 44, who appeared shaken after he reported being shot at about 9 a.m. as he drove on the Foothill Freeway near La Tuna Canyon.

“I was in the slow lane minding my own business,” he said. “I’d heard about the shootings but I never thought this would happen to me. I still don’t believe it.”

Heard a Loud Bang

Barone was on his way to buy supplies for his marble business when he heard a loud bang, CHP Officer Richard Henry said. Barone was leaning over to adjust his radio when both the driver and passenger windows were shattered, apparently by a bullet, Henry said. Barone’s left arm was cut by glass, but he was otherwise unharmed.

“There’s no doubt Barone would have been hit if he wasn’t trying to fix the radio,” Henry said. “He’s a lucky man.”

Barone told officers he saw a green sedan with two people inside and that they gestured as they sped past his car.

About 30 minutes later, three people escaped injury when their car was struck by gunfire from a black Chevrolet Camaro on the Ventura Freeway near Oxnard, CHP Officer Jim Utter said.

That shooting, which left a spider web-like crack in the car’s windshield, occurred shortly after the car had pulled onto the freeway from Vineyard Avenue in North Oxnard, Utter said. The three told police that they had had no altercation with their attacker.

Another car was struck by a bullet at 2:30 p.m. on the Golden State Freeway in the Griffith Park area, CHP Officer Monty Keifer said. The motorist, who officers did not identify, told police the shot was fired from a red car.

There have been about 30 shootings reported on Southern California roadways since mid-June. Four people have been killed.

Authorities early Tuesday arrested Lionel Rolando Newland, 23, of Pacoima in connection with an incident in which shots were fired at a woman as she was driving Sunday evening on the Golden State Freeway in Sylmar, CHP Officer Mike Maas said. No one was hurt in the incident.

Officers found a loaded .22-caliber automatic pistol in Newland’s van, along with an undisclosed quantity of “rock” cocaine, marijuana and LSD, Maas said.

Also arrested with Newland was a woman identified as Maura Guzman, 19, of Sylmar, the officer said.

The CHP arrested Newland on suspicion of drug and weapons violations, and Guzman on suspicion of drug possession, Maas said. Bail for Newland was set at $5,000 and for Guzman at $2,500, he said.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone committing a freeway shooting.

Times staff writer Tracey Kaplan in the San Fernando Valley contributed to this story.