3 Charged in Racial Shooting That Hurt 4

Three men were charged Tuesday in a racially motivated shoot-out that left four people injured at a Tarzana house party, authorities said.

Police said Jeffrey Johnson, 20, of Canoga Park was charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, while Michael Anello, 19, of Encino and Krikor Gulesserian, 19, of Reseda were charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office declined to charge four others who were arrested after the shoot-out Friday night in the 4700 block of Hermano Drive, Detective Joe Diglio said. There was not enough evidence from witnesses to charge them with taking part in the shooting, he said.

Police said the incident took place at a racially mixed party attended by about 200 people. According to investigators, Johnson, who attended the party with several other white friends, sparked the incident by yelling “white power” and firing a gun into the air and then at least once into the scattering crowd. At least one black man returned fire, police said.

Four people were hit by the gunfire but not seriously injured.

Johnson is known to police as a gang member, but police had no prior record of gang activities involving the others arrested, Diglio said.

“We are carrying it as racially motivated and gang-related,” Diglio said.