2 Arrested After Elderly Man Is Injured by Stray Rifle Bullet

Two gang members target practicing with a rifle fired a bullet that traveled 700 yards, striking a 71-year-old man in the neck and lodging in his spine, police reported.

Mario Rodriguez, 18, of Pacoima, and a 16-year-old Pacoima boy were taking turns shooting a .22-caliber rifle when one of the bullets struck Howard Carey behind the Food for Less grocery store at the corner of Van Nuys and Glenoaks boulevards, said Sgt. Rob Lerner of Los Angeles Police Department.

Police have not determined who fired the bullet that hit Carey, he said.

Carey was “conscious and moving his arms and legs” when paramedics arrived, said Bob Collis of the Los Angeles Fire Department. He underwent surgery at Holy Cross Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said.

A witness told police she saw the two youths run into a home in the 12800 block of Filmore Street after Carey was hit about 12:30 p.m., said Lerner. Police went to the home and found the pair--whom they identified as gang members on probation for other offenses--and the rifle, seven spent cartridges and 250 rounds of ammunition, Lerner said.

The two youths “admitted to shooting in the direction of the victim but said they didn’t know a person was there,” Lerner said.

Both were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, Lerner said.

Rodriguez was booked at the Foothill station and is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail. The 16-year-old is being held at Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, Lerner said.