3 Killed at West L.A. Restaurant

Oblivious to witnesses, a suspected gang gunman shot and killed three workers at close range in front of a Wilshire Boulevard restaurant in an affluent West Los Angeles neighborhood, authorities said Wednesday.

The man fired several shots into Mario Cruz, 24; Cruz’s brother, Avelino Cruz, 23; and Jorge Rodriguez, 22, each of whom died.

A fourth man also was targeted, but escaped unhurt by running into some bushes. He is 24, but police would not disclose his name.

The gunman fled in what various witnesses said was a white Mercedes-Benz or a pickup truck.

The three victims were described as trusted, longtime workers at the Koo Koo Roo on Wilshire near Bundy Drive. They were wearing their white restaurant uniforms when they were attacked about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The man who escaped is a friend who met the others at the restaurant for dinner. After eating, all four had walked around to the front, where one of the group planned to catch a bus at a nearby stop.

There they were confronted by the killer, who apparently had been looking for them, police said.

“We don’t believe this was a random act. This was directed at these four individuals,” said LAPD Deputy Chief David Kalish.

“We are looking into the possibility it was gang related, because two of the victims have gang affiliations,” he said.

Sgt. George Khoury, head of the Los Angeles Police Department’s local gang detail, said it is almost unknown for gang-related crime to spill over into this affluent area, which lies just south of the main business district of Brentwood.

The intersection where the shootings occurred is at least a mile from the closest areas known to be frequented by gangs, he said.

Violent crime of any kind is rare in West L.A. Until Tuesday night’s shooting, there had been just two homicides to date this year in the 64 square miles policed by the LAPD’s West Los Angeles Division.

That’s just a tiny fraction of the more than 426 homicides that have been committed citywide since January.

Police said a videotape from a Koo Koo Roo surveillance camera is being reviewed.

Robert Carl, a spokesman for the Irvine-based chain, said the two Cruz brothers had worked at the restaurant part time for more than five years; Rodriguez had worked there only about a month.

All were well-liked and respected by co-workers, who were shocked by the crime, he said.

Police are seeking a Latino man younger than 30, about 5 feet 4 and 160 pounds, with a medium complexion, wearing a white T-shirt and black pants.

They believe that he approached the victims on foot and exchanged words with them briefly before pulling a handgun from his waistband and shooting them numerous times in the upper body.

At least two fell where they were shot. A third fled into the street, where he collapsed.

“I heard four quick shots; they sounded high-powered,” said a nearby resident who asked not to be identified.

“My wife said, ‘Those aren’t gunshots.’ I said, ‘Trust me.’ ”

The incident touched a nerve in the usually peaceful area. Police reported receiving a number of calls Wednesday from jittery local residents who asked questions about the murders or offered tips, he said.

Rose De Luna, 21, an employee at an adjacent cafe, came to work Wednesday to find workers cleaning blood off the pavement.

“I always thought this neighborhood was calm,” she said. “And when I found out, I was, like, ‘Oh, my God.’ ”

A sign with a black ribbon on the Koo Koo Roo door Wednesday read: “We will be closed for business today.”

Well-wishers left stuffed animals, flowers, candles and notes amid the shattered glass.

“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families,” read a computer printout.

Employees trickled in throughout the day, huddling in the locked restaurant with a grief counselor.

Several wore expressions of disbelief, and some were crying.

West Los Angeles LAPD Capt. Richard Wemmer expressed surprise at the brutality of the crime. “We just don’t have a significant number of violent crimes here,” he said.

Police request that anyone with information related to the murders call (310) 575-8400 and ask for detectives.