Tujunga man accused of attempted murder on 2 Freeway pleads not guilty
A 28-year-old reputed gang member pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he allegedly fired multiple shots at two Glendale men during a carjacking and subsequent freeway crash.
Manuel Jesus Rodriguez of Tujunga was remanded into custody for $2 million bail on two counts of attempted murder, carjacking and assault with a firearm.
Rodriguez was taken into custody Jan. 7 in the 3700 block of Park Place after he reportedly shot his foot accidentally and ran away from police.
That night, police said he approached a 37-year-old driver, who was seated in his Toyota Camry in the 100 block of Sinclair Avenue.
Rodriguez demanded the Glendale man give up his car and then fired at least two shots at him, police said.
Fearing for his life, the man exited his car and Rodriguez fled the scene in it.
Rodriguez was driving on the northbound Glendale (2) Freeway, when he reportedly crashed the stolen car.
As Rodriguez tried to flee the scene, a good Samaritan, who was also driving on the freeway, stopped to see if he was hurt.
Rodriguez then fired three shots at the 42-year-old man, police said.
Both men were not wounded during the incidents.
After Rodriguez fired the shots at the Good Samaritan, he continued running and hopped over a chain-link fence onto Stancrest Avenue.
Rodriguez, who is also known as “Trouble,” is reportedly a listed member of the Glendale-based Toonerville gang, which is named in an injunction obtained by Glendale and Los Angeles in 2009.
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