EAST VALINDA — Deputies are seeking a gunman who shot and wounded two other men in a residential neighborhood Wednesday evening, officials said.
The shooting was reported about 8:15 p.m. in the 400 block of Lockmere Avenue in the unincorporated county area of East Valinda, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Raymond Enriquez said.
Three men in their 20s were walking along the street when a they were approached by a Latino man in his 20s with a shaved head driving a what was initially described as a Nissan Altima, the lieutenant said. Deputies received conflicting statements regarding the color of the car.
The attacker asked the group where they were from — a common gang challenge, officials said.
The victims, who are not believed to have gang ties, gave no response. But the gunman opened fire with a semi-automatic handgun.
One of the men was shot three times in the back and twice in the arm, Enriquez said. He was listed in stable condition after undergoing surgery.
A second victim was struck twice in the leg and has since been treated and released from the hospital, while the third victim in the group was not struck by the gunfire.
The investigation was being handled by detectives from the sheriff’s Industry Station.