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Two shooting victims named

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From a Times staff writer

Pasadena police released the names of two gunshot victims found in a crashed car Friday. The incident gained notoriety after a Good Samaritan was dragged 100 feet by the car’s driver during his escape.

The deceased men were identified as Joe Malta, 21, of Los Angeles and Francisco Regala, 21, of Alhambra, Pasadena Police Lt. George Wiley said.

The unusual incident began about 11:30 p.m. Friday when a 1990s-model Honda crashed on San Rafael Avenue.

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A woman stopped to help, but the driver of the car assaulted her and stole her car, using it as a getaway vehicle, police said.

The woman was injured as she tried to stop the driver from getting away, police said.

“She had a puppy in the car and wasn’t going to let go without the puppy,” Wiley said.

The car was found later and the puppy was unscathed, but the woman suffered significant injuries.

“This is a big mystery,” Wiley said.

The carjacker, who police said was in his early 20s, remained at large Sunday night.

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