Two Victims Shot on High School Grounds

May 4, 2000

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, May 4, 2000

"Two Victims Shot on High School Grounds"

Canoga Park – On Wednesday, May 3, 2000, at approximately 6:15 PM, officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley Division responded to an "Ambulance Shooting" radio call in the 21900 block of Hart Street. Witnesses directed responding officers to the handball court area on the grounds of Canoga Park High School. Upon their arrival, the officers observed two male Hispanic victims. One victim had sustained a single gunshot wound to his leg and the other victim had sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen area. The two victims were transported to local area hospitals where they were both admitted for their injuries, which were not believed to be life threatening.

The investigation revealed that a suspect, a male Black in his early twenties, was on Hart Street at the north side of the high school. The suspect fired several shots from outside the campus grounds towards the school’s handball courts where the two victims had been playing handball. The suspect fled on foot and is being sought at this time. His identity is unknown. The weapon, a small caliber semi-automatic pistol, is outstanding.

The motive for the shooting has not been determined, however, detectives believe it may be gang related. It is believed that the suspect and several other people had been involved in a fight near the handball courts approximately three hours prior to the shooting.

West Valley Operation Support Division is conducting the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to please call Detective Mike Maldonado at 818-756-9141. For further information, please call Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

For Release 2:00 pm PDT
May 4, 2000