Local News in Brief : Would-Be Mediator of Dispute Shot in Elbow

San Fernando police were seeking a 37-year-old man Thursday accused of wounding a Van Nuys resident who had tried to mediate a dispute between the suspect and his wife.

Adolfo Llarena Ortanez, 37, of San Fernando, fired a .44-caliber revolver five times at Paul Higgins, 31, as Higgins walked up to Ortanez’s house about 11 a.m., said San Fernando Police Lt. Rico Castro. One bullet struck Higgins in the right elbow.

Higgins had gone to the house out of concern that Ortanez might harm his wife, Rosemarie Ines Ortanez, 36, Castro said.

Higgins and Rosemarie Ortanez are co-workers at a medical laboratory next to Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills.

Adolfo Ortanez had gone to the laboratory Thursday morning and the couple began arguing, Castro said.

A short time later, the couple went to their house in the 600 block of Huntington Street.

Higgins, concerned that Ortanez might hurt his wife, went to the house and was greeted by gunfire, Castro said. Higgins drove himself to Holy Cross Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Police cordoned off the neighborhood around the Ortanez home for three hours while a special weapons team surrounded the house. About 2:30 p.m., officers entered the house, but found no one inside, Castro said.

About the same time, Rosemarie Ortanez showed up at the hospital to check on the condition of Higgins, who then called police.

She said that before police arrived at the couple’s house, her husband had taken her to a friend’s house and had driven away.

He was last seen in a white Toyota Supra with the license plate of 1KTN279.

Police are seeking attempted murder charges against Ortanez, Castro said.