Southeast

JOB DISPUTE: An unemployed carpet layer allegedly shot a former co-worker Tuesday morning after accusing him of stealing his job, Long Beach police said.

The shooting occurred about 9 a.m. after the 23-year-old suspect--identified only by his nickname “Gordo”--confronted Mario Mendez at Boulevard Carpet on the 1100 block of East Artesia Boulevard.

The two took the job dispute outside, where the suspect allegedly fired three or four rounds while chasing Mendez down an alley, police said. The last shot apparently pierced hit Mendez in the thigh.

The victim limped back to the carpet store to call for help, while the suspect drove off in a van. Mendez, a resident of Cudahy, was in fair condition after surgery. Police were still searching for the suspect late Tuesday.

Both men were described as day workers who had been contracted to install carpets for the business. The suspect had worked at Boulevard for about eight months before his supervisor replaced him last month, store employees said.