SIMI VALLEY : Youth Arrested in Pair’s Shooting

Police arrested a Canoga Park teen-ager Wednesday in a shooting that left two Simi Valley youths wounded.

Simi Valley Police Lt. Mark Layhew said that the youth, unidentified because he is 17, will be booked into Ventura County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of attempted murder.

One of the victims in the Tuesday night incident, a 14-year-old, did not require treatment for the few birdshot pellets that hit his foot, said Layhew.

The other victim, age 15, was taken to Simi Valley Hospital to be treated for more than 100 shotgun pellets in his leg, said Layhew, who refused to identify the shooting victims because they are minors.

The incident began around 10 p.m. outside the Del Taco restaurant in the 2900 block of Cochran Street, Layhew said.

The two boys were sitting with three friends at a table outside when they apparently got into an argument with five other older teen-agers, Layhew said.

The older five got into an old Honda Civic and began to drive away when the car suddenly stopped, he said. One of the passengers got out and fired three rounds with a shotgun at the Simi Valley youths, hitting two of them, then got back into the car and fled, Layhew said.

Layhew said the shooting was not gang-related, but Simi Valley detectives are working with police in Los Angeles County to find other four assailants, whom they believe live in that area.