Gunman Fires Into Car, Wounding 2

Two people were wounded, one critically, when shots were fired during a confrontation between people in two cars late Monday night, police said.

Witnesses told police that the gunman and his passenger were stopped at a red light at San Fernando Road and Verdugo Avenue just before midnight when another vehicle pulled alongside. Words may have been exchanged between the people in the two Honda Civics before the first car sped away toward the Golden State Freeway, police said.

The second car headed in that direction where the first car was waiting at Verdugo and Front Street, police said. As the second car approached, the gunman opened his door, pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and shot several times into the other vehicle, Lt. Don Brown said.

The driver of the second car ducked but was grazed in the shoulder by a bullet. A 19-year-old female passenger was struck in the head and abdomen. She was taken to an area hospital where she was listed in critical condition, Brown said. Two other passengers escaped injury.

Police said it was lucky no one was killed.

“Something is definitely wrong when someone unloads a semiautomatic handgun into a vehicle knowing full well he could kill someone,” Brown said.