3 Suspects Held After Crashing Van, Shooting at Motorist

An 18-year-old man and two boys were arrested early Monday after crashing their van while shooting at another motorist, police said.

Marlon Zepeda, 18, of West Hills, and the boys--ages 16 and 15--suffered moderate injuries in the accident, said Det. Rick Swanston of the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley station.

James Kueber, 32, was shot at in his vehicle but was not injured.

The incident began about 1:30 a.m. Monday at a residence on Shoup Avenue where Kueber was repairing a vehicle, Swanston said. When Kueber finished the work, he went for a ride with a friend. The two soon noticed a van trailing them.

Kueber dropped off his friend at the friend’s house and told him to call the police while Kueber started back home, Swanston said. On his way back, however, he saw the van near Highlander and Semrad roads and followed it, trying to get the license plate number.

But the driver and passenger of the van leaned out the windows and fired several shots before losing control and crashing into another vehicle.

Zepeda and the 16-year-old fled on foot but police later found the 15-year-old still in the van, semi-conscious, Swanston said. They also recovered a 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol.

Police later arrested Zepeda and the 16-year-old at the minor’s house in Canoga Park, according to Swanston.

Zepeda was being held at the Van Nuys jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, authorities said. Bail was set at $85,000. The minors were being held at San Fernando Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, pending arraignment.