Man Fatally Shot While Watching Illegal Street Race : Sylmar: Four juveniles are arrested in the killing. The 20-year-old victim was among a crowd of more than 100.

A 20-year-old Los Angeles man was shot to death early Saturday while watching an illegal street race in Sylmar, just a few blocks away from a similar killing six weeks ago, Los Angeles police said.

The shooting is believed to be gang-related, but authorities did not know if the victim, Anthony Dakchee Wong, belonged to a gang, said Officer Joe Napolitano.

Four juveniles were arrested on suspicion of murder, but their identities were not released because of their ages, Napolitano said.

Wong was shot when he and a crowd of more than 100 others gathered at 2:30 a.m. to watch a drag race on Bradley Avenue near Bledsoe Street, said Detective Bob Bogison.

Witnesses told authorities that four men wearing hoods drove down Bradley in a Honda and, for an unknown reason, opened fire on the crowd, Napolitano said. Wong died at the scene. It was unclear whether the gunmen were among the racers.

Saturday’s shooting took place just blocks away from a stretch of San Fernando Road, between Roxford and Filbert streets, where a gun battle erupted at a drag race Aug. 8. Ferdinand Nicholas, 17, of Los Angeles died and two other youths were injured when gunmen also opened fire on a crowd watching a race. The area has become a popular gathering spot for racers in the last six months, authorities and nearby residents said.

“Illegal street racing has been escalating into a problem,” Lt. Richard Meraz said. “It’s been an ongoing problem that has been occurring in the early morning hours.”

Following Saturday’s attack, police went to a house in Arleta, where stolen Hondas were known to be dumped, Napolitano said. Police spotted a Honda believed to be used in the shooting and arrested two youths they saw getting into the car.

The youths were being held on suspicion of murder, Napolitano said. Authorities continued their stakeout of the house and later took into custody 14 more people, all from the San Fernando Valley.

Two more youths were arrested on suspicion of killing Wong and a dozen others were being held on suspicion of burglary and receiving stolen property, Napolitano said. Police also seized the gun believed to have been used to shoot Wong.

Ralph Reyes, who has lived on Bradley for 11 years, said the cruising and racing began about two months ago on weekend nights between midnight and 4 a.m. Reyes said he heard about six gunshots fired Friday night in front of his house.

“It scares me,” Reyes said. “I’m afraid they’re going to run right into my house with their cars or their going to shoot sporadically into my house.”

Reyes said he is awakened on weekend nights by an endless parade of cars. “It’s like somebody revving up their engine in your living room every Friday and Saturday night,” he said.

Reyes’ sentiments were echoed by Dottie Adkins, who also lives on Bradley.

“You can’t sleep because you can hear revving engines driving up and down the street,” Adkins said. “Late at night, I’ve also been disturbed that at the corner there seemed to 20 to 30 guys just sitting on the curb. . . .It’s like a meeting place.”

Times staff writer Jim Herron Zamora contributed to this story.