3 Are Arrested in Fatal Shootings of 2 Men

Two men were fatally shot early Sunday when at least one gunman went to a Mission Hills apartment and opened fire, Los Angeles police said.

Aaron Urquidez, 28, of Mission Hills was pronounced dead at the scene in the 10100 block of North Sepulveda Boulevard, apparently from a gunshot wound to the head, said Det. Frank Bishop of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division.

Bishop said Urquidez was lying in bed when he was shot at about 4:30 a.m.

Bishop said the second victim, Adrian Salmeron, 36, of Mission Hills, who also was in the apartment, was shot in the head after he opened the door. Salmeron was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in critical condition and died at about 12:50 p.m., authorities said.

Police said officers responding to a report of gunshots saw three suspects leaving the apartment. The suspects fled in a car and were chased by officers for about 10 minutes before they crashed into a wall along South Workman Street east of Truman Street in San Fernando. They ran from the car but were arrested 5 to 10 minutes later, police said.

Authorities said the suspects arrested on suspicion of murder were Javier Contreras, 20, Luis Flores, 23, and Jose Melendez, 20, all of Pacoima.

Police said the motive for the shootings was unknown. It was unclear how many of the suspects were carrying weapons or had fired shots. The incident remained under investigation.