Gang Member Shot as Task Force Interrupts Street Fight

A joint FBI-police task force serving warrants in connection with the April riots happened upon a gang fight in Van Nuys on Friday and an already wounded gang member was shot again by a police officer he threatened with a gun, Los Angeles police reported.

Three gang members were arrested, including another wounded youth, police said.

Detective Carl Lou said nine officers from the task force and 10 members of an FBI SWAT team were serving search warrants near Saticoy Street and Sepulveda Boulevard when they heard gunshots and saw several young men running.

“We just happened to be here,” Lou said.

About 15 to 20 young Latino men were lined up on opposite sides of Saticoy Street when officers arrived, he said. “It looked like a gang fight. Both sides appeared to have guns.”

Lt. William Hall of the Police Department’s officer-involved shooting investigation team said a police officer noticed that a wounded youth, being helped away by a companion, was holding a .45-caliber pistol. The officer ordered the man in Spanish and English to drop the gun, Hall said, but the youth instead pointed it at the officer, who shot him twice.

He and another wounded youth were sent to local hospitals to be treated. The nature of their injuries was not immediately known. Both were arrested, along with a third suspected gang member, on unspecified charges.

Neither the wounded youths nor the officer involved in the shooting were identified by police.

Police said they did not know how the fight started. However, a salesman--who gave his name only as Hanan--at Easy Communications Beepers in the 15000 block of Saticoy Street--said a group of young men were purchasing beepers in his store when a second group entered and a fight broke out. The fight spilled into the street, where gunshots were exchanged, he said.

Lou would not disclose the nature of the search warrant, except to say that it was related to the riot.

The FBI agents took no part in the gang arrests, Hall said.