FULLERTON : 5 Held After Shots Are Fired From Car

A carload of gunmen opened fire while driving around a restaurant parking lot early Monday, and at least two persons were injured before the armed men were chased down and captured by police.

Shots were still being fired from the car when a police cruiser arrived at Diamond Restaurant and Dancing in the 900 block of West Orangethorpe Avenue, said Sgt. Glenn Deveny. The suspects’ car collided with the cruiser before the suspects led police on a short chase that ended nearby in Anaheim, he said.

Five people were taken into custody, and police recovered two 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistols believed used during the 12:17 a.m. incident. All were arrested on suspicion of assault with a firearm. One of the men was also booked on suspicion of receiving stolen property, because one of the guns had been reported stolen, Deveny said.

One of those hurt was a restaurant manager who suffered minor injuries when he tried to break up a fight between two groups of men, Deveny said. A second victim was treated at Doctors Hospital of Santa Ana for cuts and puncture injuries that may have included a bullet wound, Deveny said.

In an unrelated shooting, a Fullerton man was wounded by gunfire Sunday afternoon when alleged gang members showed up at his house to claim a bicycle, Deveny said.

Alfredo E. Arias, 21, and two friends were in the garage of his home in the 3100 block of Topaz Lane when a group of about 10 gang members arrived to claim a bicycle allegedly stolen the night before, Deveny said. A fight broke out and at least two shots were fired, he said. Arias suffered a superficial gunshot wound to the back of the head, Deveny said.

Arias was treated and released from UCI Medical Center in Orange.