1 Man Killed, 4 Wounded in 2 Drive-By Shootings

One man died and four people--including a 9-year-old boy--were wounded Saturday night in two drive-by shootings in Van Nuys, authorities said.

Two men were shot in the 14100 block of Sherman Way near Hazeltine Avenue about 8:25 p.m., said Lt. Al Dravidzius of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The victims were sitting on a bus bench when shots were fired from a dark-colored car, police said.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene, and a second man was listed in stable condition at Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills. Both victims, whose names were not released, are believed to be in their late teens to mid-20s, Dravidzius said.

Three people were wounded just blocks away in an earlier shooting, about 7 p.m., in the Valerio Gardens housing project in the 14400 block of Valerio Street, police said.

Frank Johnson, 9, was listed in fair condition with a bullet wound to the back, said Regina Birdsell, spokeswoman for Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles.

A 28-year-old man was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center in critical condition and a 48-year-old man was taken to Holy Cross Medical Center in serious condition, said Bob Collis, spokesman for the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

Their names were not released.

The incident began when two men driving a black Toyota Supra pulled into a driveway area between two apartment buildings and opened fire, police said.

Sgt. John De Nardo said the 28-year-old man appeared to be the target, but “there were quite a few people in the area,” and several shots were fired.

The 48-year-old man was waxing his car at the time, and the boy was “an innocent bystander,” De Nardo said.

There were no arrests in either incident. It is not known if the shootings are related, police said.