Shooting-Suicide Called Gang-Related

Sheriff’s officials investigating a 25-year-old man who shot a friend three times before fatally shooting himself are linking the event to gang activity.

Deputies declined comment Thursday, but in a written report, officers described the shooting by Andres Contreras as being gang-related.

Thomas Wang, 18, was shot three times in the shoulder during a confrontation with Contreras at 3 a.m. Wednesday at Wendy Park, according to deputies.

Suzie Patten, who lives in the 700 block of Grable Place near the park, said the bleeding man stumbled onto her porch at 3:08 a.m. asking for assistance. He refused to answer any questions about what had happened, she said.

After calling 911, Patton and her son pressed several old T-shirts against Wang’s shoulder to stop the bleeding, she said.

Wang, admitted to UCLA Medical Center for treatment of his wounds and a compressed nerve in his shoulder, was released Thursday, said a hospital spokeswoman.

Contreras, who lived in Newbury Park with his mother and brother was found dead in his backyard by his mother, Leonor, at 8:40 a.m. Wednesday. Deputies reported that he had shot himself in the head.