Five Gunned Down in Suspected Gang Attack

In a drive-by shooting believed to be gang-related, five people were wounded--two critically--while standing on a sidewalk in South-Central Los Angeles, police said.

The five victims--Raul Aguirre, 25, Manuel Aguirre, 23, Jose Rivas, 30, Osvaldo Quevas, 19, and Jose Cornejo, 25--were standing on the 100 block of East 54th Street about 11:30 p.m. Saturday when occupants of a passing car fired gunshots at the group, said Los Angeles Police Detective Joe Linares.

Although a motive for the shooting is unknown, police said they are investigating it as a gang-related incident.

“That’s the way gang members do their shooting--from a vehicle--not the typical way, like when someone has a dispute or something,” Los Angeles Police Sgt. Doug Tantee said. “They tend to do it in a kind of cowardly fashion like that.”

Tantee also termed the shooting “unusual” because it claimed so many victims. “Usually, there are two (victims) at most shot at, but to have five is unusual,” Tantee said.

Raul Aguirre suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was taken to California Medical Center where he was placed on a life-support system, Linares said. Aguirre remained in critical condition Sunday, said nursing supervisor Jessie Castiel.

Rivas suffered a gunshot wound to the back and was listed in critical condition at County-USC Medical Center, said hospital spokeswoman Adelaida De La Cerda. Quevas was taken to the USC medical center with a fractured left leg and was listed in fair condition, De La Cerda said.

Manuel Aguirre received treatment at White Memorial Medical Center and was released, said nursing supervisor Azucena Ngarmtap. Cornejo was treated by paramedics at the scene for his wound and released, Linares said.