3 Youths Shot in Placentia Drive-By Attack

Three youths were wounded Wednesday evening by shotgun blasts in a drive-by shooting, authorities said.

The three unidentified victims--believed to have been two girls and a boy--were shot as they sat in a car on Tafolla Street at Orangethorpe Avenue, according to Placentia police and witnesses.

Two shotgun blasts were fired from a vehicle passing by on Orangethorpe, said Police Lt. Ken Rowley. The assailants’ vehicle then sped off.

Mike Gonzalez, 19, who witnessed the shooting as he was walking home, said he saw a passenger in a mini-truck point and fire a gun. He said the truck slowed suddenly and stereo music blasting from inside stopped. “I was stunned. I was tripping out. The guys (assailants) just took off,” he said.

The shotgun blasts blew out the front and rear windows of the white Buick Regal. All of the victims were taken to Placentia-Linda Community Hospital.

Witnesses said a boy and a girl appeared to have minor injuries, but another girl who stayed in a car appeared to be more seriously hurt.

Although youth gangs are known to be active in the area, Rowley said he did not know whether the shooting was related to gang activity.