Man Slain in Gunfight Believed Gang-Related

Two men were shot, one fatally, outside a Buena Park home Monday night in what police believe was a gang-related fight, which terrified the neighborhood and forced residents to barricade themselves indoors for more than an hour.

Buena Park Police Lt. Richard Hafdahl said a third man, who was found inside the home and armed with a large-caliber gun, was brought to police headquarters for questioning, but no arrests had been made late Monday night.

“I think you could definitely say this is gang-related,” Hafdahl said. “It appears a small group of people opened fire on a house from the street or the driveway. And gunfire was returned by someone inside the home. We are still searching the area for any additional victims.”

One of the wounded was declared dead at a nearby hospital, police said. He has not been identified, Hafdahl said. One resident who saw the victim in his uncle’s front yard said the man looked to be 18 to 20 years old.

The second wounded man was shot in the arm. He too had not been identified last night, and his condition was not immediately known, Hafdahl said.

Neighbors first reported hearing gunfire in the street about 8:15 p.m. in the 6500 block of Thelma Avenue, Hafdahl said.

Hafdahl said the neighborhood is known as Los Coyotes Barrio, where violent gang incidents have occurred “in spurts.”

“It’s really an emotional time out there,” he said and noted that investigators are seeking evidence over an area of about 100 yards, in “people’s back yards, front yards, the street, part of the school.”

One 16-year-old resident said, “People are pretty rattled here. . . . They’ve (police officers) had us locked up inside for over an hour.”

Hafdahl said .22-caliber shell casings were found in the driveway of the home where the victim was fatally wounded.