2 People Killed in Shooting Outside Sylmar Sports Bar

A dispute between acquaintances escalated into gunfire outside a Sylmar sports bar, leaving two people dead, detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday.

Christopher Staten, 25, of Sylmar and Patricia Frias, 47, of San Fernando died at the scene after they were each shot several times, said Det. Frank Bishop of the LAPD’s Foothill Division.

Zachary Mellon, 30, of Sylmar was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the Monday night shooting at Gary’s Sports Lounge in the 13600 block of Foothill Boulevard. Detectives were trying to determine what the argument was about, authorities said Tuesday.

“There was a confrontation inside the bar before the shooting, where witnesses heard the suspect raise his voice to the male victim,” Bishop said. “Other than that, there was no indication that would provide us with a motive.”

After fleeing the bar, Mellon ran down Hubbard Street and across a freeway overpass to a gas station at Gladstone Avenue, where he tried to enter a convenience store, detectives said.

After finding the doors locked, Mellon tried to carjack a minivan, but fled when he saw five people inside--two men, two women and a baby, detectives said.

As Mellon ran, a man in the minivan tried to chase him down, police said. Moments later, witnesses reported hearing five gunshots, but the unidentified man was not hit.

Mellon was arrested as he tried to discard the clothes he wore during the shootings, detectives said. He carried a 10-mm semiautomatic pistol, believed to be the murder weapon. A .22-caliber revolver was found on nearby Hubbard Street.

A bullet penetrated a window and a faux wood partition at a nearby Denny’s restaurant and landed in the second dining room. The five customers and workers inside were not hurt.

Other charges Mellon faces are attempted murder, attempted carjacking and shooting into an occupied building, authorities said.

Police said they wanted to talk with the occupants of the white minivan, described as having two sliding doors on each side and dealer plates that read: “Auto Land.” They asked that anyone with information about the shooting call LAPD Foothill Division detectives at (818) 834-3110.