The Region - News from Sept. 1, 1987

A 14-year-old boy was shot and critically wounded in a dispute over a bicycle. Los Angeles police detective Richard Hoffman said the victim was a passenger in a car that stopped in the 2600 block of Budlong Avenue when its driver saw three boys arguing over a bicycle swap. He said one of the arguing youngsters drew a handgun and fired, but missed his intended target--and then fired at the youngster in the car. The bullet hit the 14-year-old in the head and everyone fled, abandoning the boy in the street, Hoffman said. The wounded boy, whose name was witheld because of his age, was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where he was reported in critical condition.