Gunfire Erupts Outside Gang Funeral

Gunfire broke out among gang members outside a crowded Mission Hills mortuary Tuesday during a service for a 17-year-old gang member, Los Angeles police said.

The incident occurred at the Utter McKinley Mortuary on Columbus Avenue about 7:30 p.m. when 35 to 40 people were attending services for Juan Gutierrez, police said.

“It was a gang funeral, and several gang members got into a fistfight outside,” said Officer A. Kreitzman. “Shots were fired. No one was wounded.”

A pregnant woman, who was near term, was treated at Holy Cross Medical Center and released, after she was knocked down during the commotion, authorities said.

“She’s fine now,” hospital spokeswoman Gail Sullivan said.

A witness at the mortuary said a large number of friends and family members were attending the services when five or six shots were fired outside the building.

“Everyone hit the deck,” said a witness, who asked not to be identified. “W didn’t know for sure what was going on.”

Those in the mortuary thought the gunfire was directed at the building, but apparently the shots were part of a fight between gang members outside, Kreitzman said.

Police would not release any information about Gutierrez or his alleged gang affiliations.