Youth, 14, Arrested After 3 Shot Outside Junior High : Crime: A Los Angeles police officer was having lunch near the North Hills school when the gunfire began.

A police officer buying lunch across from Sepulveda Junior High School in North Hills was disturbed by the sound of gunfire Tuesday and looked up to see a 14-year-old gang member shoot three youths on a street filled with students, Los Angeles police said.

The officer took into custody a ninth-grader at the school, a Van Nuys boy whose name was not released. He was in custody at Sylmar Juvenile Hall on suspicion of attempted murder.

The wounded youths were not seriously injured.

Officer Daniel J. Slater, who is assigned to a police community relations detail, was standing at a taco stand or truck on his lunch break about 2:50 p.m. when he saw the shooting across from the school at Plummer Street and Sepulveda Boulevard, said Lt. Tom Broad.

“He was just standing there ordering a burrito or something, when he saw what happened and responded,” Sgt. Jill Niles said.

Slater, who regularly visits with many youths at the school as part of his job, ran across the street and arrested the boy, who did not resist, Broad said.

The wounded were treated at Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, Broad said. Alfredo Avilla, 20, of Panorama City was treated for a gunshot wound in the leg and released, hospital spokesman Gail Sullivan said. Jesse Flores, 17, of Panorama City and Juan Iturriaga, 12, of North Hills were treated for minor gunshot wounds in their legs and transferred to County-USC Medical Center, Sullivan said.

It was unclear what caused the shooting, Broad said, but the four belonged to two rival gangs, he said. Iturriaga also attended school with the 14-year-old boy.

As classes ended for the day, the 14-year-old became involved in an argument with the other three. He then pulled out a handgun and shot at them several times, Broad said.