Man Shot During Robbery Attempt

A 34-year-old Newhall man remained hospitalized Wednesday after apparently being shot by a youth who tried to steal beer from the man and his two brothers, authorities said.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials say Rigoberto Palomares was in the courtyard of his apartment complex in the 24200 block of Pine Street with his two brothers at 9:40 p.m. when they were approached by at least three young men who attempted to steal their beer.

One youth pulled a handgun and shot Palomares in the lower abdomen as the men wrestled, said Det. Joe Dombrowski of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

The attackers had already fled when sheriff’s deputies arrived.

Palomares was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Santa Clarita, where he underwent surgery, authorities said.

His brothers, Sipriano, 31, and Francisco, 26, were uninjured, Dombrowski said.

Witnesses identified the suspects as members of a local gang, Dombrowski said, adding that the attack may be linked to a number of robberies in the area the night before in which gang members allegedly attacked older, non-English speaking residents.

“They were looking for people who they knew were going to be reluctant to report crimes to police,” Dombrowski said.