Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department’s Asian Crime Unit is investigating a violent incident that resulted in two juvenile male Asians being attacked, and one of the youths being wounded by gunfire.

On December 30, 2002, at approximately 8:00 p.m., two LAPD Devonshire Area officers responded to a "Shooting in Progress" call in the area of Nordoff Street and Reseda Boulevard. Enroute to the call location, responding officers observed a juvenile male Asian victim lying down on the sidewalk with an apparent gunshot wound to his right lower leg. A second juvenile male Asian victim was located at the nearby Net café located on the 9200 block of Reseda Boulevard. The second victim was injured from being struck in the head with a chair and hit several times in the torso with a wrench.

The initial investigation revealed that three male Asian suspects confronted the two victims at the internet cafe, chased them, and began attacking the two young men. Running to escape their attackers, one suspect said he heard "six or seven pops" and felt a sharp pain in his leg. He soon collapsed from his gunshot wound where officers found him on the sidewalk.

The gunshot victim was transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery and is expected to recover. The second victim was also transported to a local medical facility and is expected to recover from his injuries. No suspects are in custody and no weapon was recovered.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Los Angeles Police Department’s Asian Crime Unit at 213-473-7333. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective information desk,
1-877-LAWFULL, 1-877-529-3855.

This press release was prepared by Officer Jack Richter, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.