Police: Whittier man arrested following shotgun attack on neighbor


WHITTIER >> Police jailed a Whittier man Sunday after he opened fire on a neighbor with a shotgun, but missed, in Uptown Whittier, officials said.
Jose Manuel Luevano, 23, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon following the 8:20 a.m. incident in the 6700 block of Painter Avenue, Whittier police officials said in a written statement.
The victim, a man in his 20s, was sitting in a car when Lueveano approached while brandishing a shotgun, police said.
“The suspect pointed the shotgun at the victim and fired once,” according to the police statement. “The victim was not hit and the suspect ran from the location.”
The load of shot from the shotgun struck a building behind the victim, Lt. Bryan Ellis said.
Police searched the area but did not find the shooter.
But further investigation led police to find the suspect about five hours later, on foot in the area of Rosecrans Avenue and La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, where officers took him into custody without a struggle, authorities said.
“A search warrant was served at his residence and a weapon was located,” the statement said.
The gun recovered at Luevano’s home was similar to the one used in the shooting, though police were yet to determine if it was one and the same, Ellis said.
The suspect and victim were acquainted with one another, however, no words were exchanged prior to the gunfire, the lieutenant said. The motive for the shooting was unknown.
According to Los Angeles County booking records, Luevano was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail pending his initial court appearance.

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