Youth Killed, 2 Injured in Drive-By Shooting

A 16-year-old Sunland boy was killed and two other teen-agers were injured in a gang-related drive-by shooting at a shopping center parking lot, Los Angeles police reported Friday.

Lt. Ron LaRue said Oscar Cerventes and two 17-year-old friends were standing in a parking lot at Vineland Avenue and Saticoy Street at 9:30 p.m. Thursday when a car drove through the lot and several shots were fired from the car at the three youths.

All three were struck and taken to Pacifica Hospital of the Valley where Cerventes later died. The other two, whose names were not released, were in good condition, LaRue said. He said the motive for the shooting appeared to be gang rivalry.

At 2:45 a.m. Friday, patrol officers in North Hollywood spotted a car matching the description of the car used in the shooting. Three youths abandoned it near Tujunga Avenue and Archwood Street and ran as police chased on foot.

Two of the youths were captured and arrested on suspicion of robbery, but police said they did not have evidence connecting them to the shooting.