HERMOSA BEACH : Firefighter Arrested After Allegedly Shooting at Men
A Los Angeles firefighter was being held on suspicion of attempted murder after he fired shots at two men in Hermosa Beach, police said Thursday.
Hermosa Beach Police Capt. Mike Lavin said the incident began early Tuesday when Jose Rene Silva, 41, of Alhambra left a bar on Pier Avenue and--for reasons still unclear--got into an argument with Ryan Borgens, a Hermosa Beach resident Silva had never met.
Lavin said that when Silva pulled a crowbar from his car, Borgens ran and the firefighter gave chase.
“At some point, Silva pulled out a 9-millimeter handgun and fired several rounds at Borgens,” Lavin said. “At this point, an individual--Gregory Scruggs-- came by, walking a bicycle, and Silva fired a shot at the individual.”
All the shots missed.
Lavin said Silva gave up the chase, got in his car and drove off, but later returned to the scene, where police were investigating the crime. Witnesses spotted him, Borgens and Scruggs identified him as the gunman and Silva was arrested.
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