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Video: Glendale carjacking suspect shot himself in foot, fired rounds at victims

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A reputed gang member shot himself in the foot Tuesday night after reportedly carjacking a vehicle on Sinclair Avenue, and then fired several rounds at a Good Samaritan who stopped to ask if he was hurt on the Glendale (2) Freeway, police said.

During the police investigation, a section of the freeway was shut down.

Manuel Jesus Rodriguez, 28, of Tujunga was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after he fired at least two rounds at the driver during the carjacking incident and three rounds at the Good Samaritan, according to Glendale police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot.

The 37-year-old driver and 42-year-old Good Samaritan, both of Glendale, were not hurt during the shootings.

“The victims are very, very lucky,” she said.

While the two men narrowly escaped injury, Rodriguez shot his left foot as he tried to flee the area, Lightfoot said. He was treated at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital and later released to police.

But earlier that night, police said Rodriguez reportedly approached a driver who was seated in his Toyota Camry at about 10 p.m. in the 100 block of Sinclair Avenue and demanded his car.

He then fired at least two shots, which prompted the driver to give up the vehicle, she said.

Rodriguez, who police say is a reputed gang member, reportedly fled in the car and eventually crashed on the northbound 2 Freeway, south of Stancrest Avenue.

The Good Samaritan had also been driving on the northbound 2 Freeway and stopped to check if Rodriguez was injured.

Rodriguez then fired three shots, which struck the Good Samaritan’s vehicle, she said.

Rodriguez fled the scene and hopped over a chain-link fence onto Stancrest Avenue, Lightfoot said.

But police eventually caught up with him in the 3700 block of Park Place, where he was arrested.

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Follow Veronica Rocha on Google+ and on Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA.

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