Gunman Fires Shots Into Unoccupied Patrol Car

A sniper fired two shots into an unoccupied Los Angeles police car while two officers were writing a traffic citation nearby, prompting a three-hour search of a gang-ridden Panorama City neighborhood early Thursday.

No arrests were made by about 40 officers who searched several apartments in a building in the 8500 block of Willis Avenue and several nearby blocks.

Officers Sonya Tiefenbacher, 27, and Ubaldo Zesati, 22, were writing a traffic citation about 10:20 p.m. Wednesday, when two shots were fired from the back of the apartment complex, shattering the patrol car’s rear window, Lt. Richard Blankenship said.

Police quickly cordoned off a three-block area bordered by Parthenia Street on the north, Chase Street on the south, Kester Avenue on the west and Cedros Avenue on the east. They ordered residents to remain inside as they searched the area, using dogs and helicopters. The search ended about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Blankenship said.

The motive for the shooting was unknown but “this particular area in inundated with violent street gang members,” Blankenship said.

“The street itself is a little more infamous than some of the surrounding areas, but we have a lot of gang activity all around there,” Blankenship said.

Officers initially sought a young man with a ponytail who police believed had fired the shots from a third-floor apartment on the south side of the building. Police searched several apartments there, including a vacant unit that suspected gang members had broken into recently, Blankenship said.

It was determined that the gunshots were probably fired from the roof, said Blankenship, who would not say what type of gun was used.

“We have no reason to believe the suspects in the traffic case were involved; in fact they were also in danger,” Blankenship said.

Some neighbors ignored police orders to remain indoors and congregated across from the shooting, festively swapping stories about local gang activity.

“As soon as the police leave the territory, the gangbangers take over. This is their territory. We’re all scared,” said Willie Roman, 59, who manages the building from which the shots were fired. “This is a tough area.”

Roman and several other Willis Avenue residents said the area is contested turf between a gang based in Van Nuys and another in Panorama City.

“It’s been bad here for about three years, but this summer it’s really gotten crazy,” Roman said. “It’s terrible, those young guys are high on drugs and hungry to kill their rivals.”

Roman was briefly detained by police officers who had heard that he owned five guns. As he was led off in handcuffs, he angrily proclaimed his innocence but expressed no resentment against police after his release.

“The cops are great,” he said. “I wish they were here more often.”