Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery Homicide Detectives are investigating a shooting which culminated in two men being hospitalized, and two suspects taken to jail.

On June 12, 2003, around 5:48 p.m., two LAPD Hollenbeck Area Gang Impact Team (GIT) members, Detective David Graff, and Police Officer Antonio Salazar, were patrolling the area of Fickett Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue. Suddenly, shots rang out sending shoppers scattering in all directions of the busy East Los Angeles marketplace. Rushing towards the erupting violence, the gang officers spotted two men walking quickly along the sidewalk of Cesar Chavez. One of the men, 18 year-old Luis Fernando Martinez, was carrying a handgun. Seeing the officers, Martinez passed the weapon to his juvenile companion, who then slipped the gun into his waistband and ran down a nearby alley, with the officers chasing him in their car.

Ordering the armed juvenile to stop, the young man spun around toward the officers and pointed the gun at them. The officers drew their weapons and fired several shots at the gunman. Unhurt by the volley of bullets, the gunman threw down his gun and dropped to the pavement. Hearing the barrage of gunfire, a second LAPD patrol unit, officers Alonzo Ramirez and Michael Soliman, went to the alley to provide back-up and saw 18 year-old Jose Aguayo lying on an adjacent street sidewalk, wounded by gunfire. Accompanying Aguayo was a 13 year-old juvenile female, who, after seeing the officers approach, picked up a pistol from the sidewalk and attempted to flee the scene. The young girl was taken into custody and the weapon was recovered. After questioning Martinez, officers discovered that a bullet had also hit him. Both Martinez and Aguayo were admitted into a hospital. The male juvenile was arrested for 245 PC, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and the female juvenile was arrested for 32 PC, Accessory to Attempted Murder.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD Robbery Homicide Division at 213-485-2531. On weekends and during off-hours, call the Detective Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL, 1-877-529-3855.

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