LOCAL : Suspect Seized in Shooting Spree at Restaurant in Universal City

A man who was asked to leave a Universal City restaurant after an argument in a bar returned and fired several shots at security guards and about 100 other patrons this morning but no one was injured, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported.

The suspect, identified as Charles Bryant, 31, of Studio City, was then chased by the security guards and captured after the 1:30 a.m. shooting in front of the Victoria Station restaurant. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was being held without bail in the sheriff’s West Hollywood substation jail.

Deputy Roger Hom said Bryant had been in the bar of the restaurant, located in the entertainment and studio complex off Lankershim Boulevard. Bryant got into an argument with another patron and was asked by the restaurant manager to leave, Hom said.

Bryant returned as the restaurant was closing and patrons were leaving. Hom said the suspect fired two shots from a semi-automatic pistol at two unarmed security guards and then turned and fired at least nine more shots at the patrons leaving the restaurant. Hom did not know how far away from the people Bryant stood when shooting. “Miraculously, none of the scattering patrons were hit by the gunfire,” he said.