3 Questioned, Released Over Wounding of 2 Officers

Three men detained shortly after two Los Angeles police officers were wounded by a shotgun blast in North Hills have been released, and authorities were searching for the gunman Saturday.

The three were questioned after two undercover vice sergeants, who may have been mistaken for gang members by a real gang member, suffered minor wounds in the incident at Langdon Avenue and Rayen Street late Friday, police said.

Brad Kubela and Frank Flores were treated at Granada Hills Hospital and released, said Deputy Chief Mark A. Kroeker. Flores, 46, was wounded near the eyes and Kubela, 33, was hit by pellets in the left arm and right shoulder.

Kubela and Flores were questioning a youth in an alley when they were confronted by another man, who said something about gang affiliation, then fired one round from a shotgun and fled, Kroeker said. The men who were detained were found in a Langdon Avenue apartment building where the gunman was believed to be hiding.