Man Shot after Confronting Tagger NR11308rf

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Mission Area gang detectives are looking for two to three suspects involved in a gang-related shooting last month.

On June 18, 2011, shortly after 8 p.m., an 18-year-old Hispanic male left an apartment complex in the 8400 block of Langdon Avenue in North Hills and confronted a suspect who was vandalizing the front of an apartment building.  While he was speaking with the tagger, a second suspect approached and began shooting at him with an unknown caliber handgun, striking him in the torso.  The victim then took cover behind a cement planter, and the two suspects ran to a waiting truck and left the area.

The suspects are described as follows: Suspect one, who shot the victim, is described as a 20- to 25-year-old Hispanic male with a shaved head.  He stands between 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 225 pounds.   Suspect two, who was tagging the apartment building, is described as a 17- to 20-year-old Hispanic male with black hair.  He stands about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 120 pounds.  It is unclear from the video footage if there is a third male Hispanic suspect or if suspects one or two drove the truck.

At the time of the incident, the victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.  He is now listed in stable condition.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call LAPD Mission Area gang detectives at
818-838-9932. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to the Mission Area watch commander at 818-838-9800 or to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters can also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.