Gang Member Held in Shooting at Pacoima Restaurant

A 21-year-old gang member was arrested Monday as a suspect in a shooting inside a crowded fast-food restaurant in Pacoima that left two customers seriously injured, Los Angeles police said.

Victor L. Thomas of Pacoima surrendered at the Foothill Division police station at noon and was being held without bail on suspicion of attempted murder, Lt. Bernard D. Conine said.

Conine said Thomas is suspected of shooting two rival gang members inside a Burger King at Glenoaks and Van Nuys boulevards at 6 p.m. Sunday. Thomas turned himself in after learning that police had identified him as the gunman and were searching for him in the Pacoima area, Conine said.

The victims, Frank White, 23, and Willie King, 22, both of Pacoima, were in serious but stable condition Monday, police said. Authorities would not disclose the hospital where the men were taken.

The shooting was believed to be rooted in a rivalry between two local gangs. Thomas declined to talk about the shooting after his arrest, and only one of the victims could be interviewed by detectives, Conine said.

“From the way it went down, it appears to be a typical gang ‘pay-back’ shooting,” Conine said. “We haven’t been able to determine what it was pay back for.”

About 15 people were in line to order food, and 10 more were in the restaurant eating when the shooting occurred, authorities said.

White and King were at the counter placing their order when the gunman walked up behind White, said something and shot him in the back three times at close range, police said.

White collapsed on the restaurant counter while other patrons began diving for cover and running out the front doors. Police said King also attempted to run, but the gunman turned and fired at him as he went through the door. King was hit once in the back and collapsed outside. The gunman fled on foot, police said.

Witnesses were able to identify Thomas, police said. An investigation is continuing, police said.