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Teenager hit in drive-by shooting
  
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An 18-year-old was shot multiple times in the torso just a block from elementary school.
By Ryan Vaillancourt
NORTHWEST GLENDALE — An 18-year-old man was shot multiple times in the torso Wednesday morning in what police believe was a gang-related drive-by shooting, which took place less than a block from Benjamin Franklin Elementary School.
The man, whose name has not yet been released, was still conscious when police arrived on scene and was transported to Los Angeles County Medical Center where he was believed to be in stable condition at the hospital, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.
Several witnesses called 911 after they heard about five gun shots ring out in this quiet residential neighborhood, Lorenz said.
Two men driving a silver Nissan Xterra with Glendale Nissan paper plates reportedly shot the teen as he approached a friend’s Justin Avenue apartment building carrying a cup of coffee and box of pastries, Lorenz said. Both men, who got out of the SUV to chase the victim, were believed to be armed, Lorenz said.
“The shots, they woke me up,” said Ivan Lopez, whose home is behind the apartment building the teenager was believed to be approaching when he was shot.
Jose Perez, who lives across the street on Justin Avenue, had just opened his front door to move a baby stroller when he heard shots. Perez retreated inside, he said, and after hearing about seven gunshots, he came outside and saw the wounded man crawling up a staircase to the apartment building’s second floor.
“I went to check on him and the shots were in his back and his face was all white,” Perez said.
Police cordoned off the portion of Justin Avenue that juts north of Lake Street and dead-ends at a retaining wall bordering the Golden State (5) Freeway Wednesday morning as investigators scanned the crime scene with metal detectors in search of bullet casings and other evidence.
The pastries, a fitted baseball cap and a coffee cup littered the apartment building driveway as police searched the area. At least three bullet casings, from what police believe to be a semi-automatic handgun, were found.
About a block away, Franklin Elementary School immediately implemented a lock-down after parents who had been in the area heard the gunshots and reported the incident to school staff, Principal Stephen Williams said.
Students and teachers stayed locked in their classrooms for about 50 minutes before police indicated that the area was safe, Williams said.
“Whenever we get into a situation like that, the first thing is we evaluate the situation and if we deem that there’s any possibility [that] children’s safety might be compromised,” Williams said. “That’s what makes us decide to go into a lockdown. That’s our No. 1 priority — students’ safety.”
Police are requesting that anyone with information call (818) 507-7867.
The man, whose name has not yet been released, was still conscious when police arrived on scene and was transported to Los Angeles County Medical Center where he was believed to be in stable condition at the hospital, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.
Several witnesses called 911 after they heard about five gun shots ring out in this quiet residential neighborhood, Lorenz said.
Two men driving a silver Nissan Xterra with Glendale Nissan paper plates reportedly shot the teen as he approached a friend’s Justin Avenue apartment building carrying a cup of coffee and box of pastries, Lorenz said. Both men, who got out of the SUV to chase the victim, were believed to be armed, Lorenz said.
“The shots, they woke me up,” said Ivan Lopez, whose home is behind the apartment building the teenager was believed to be approaching when he was shot.
Jose Perez, who lives across the street on Justin Avenue, had just opened his front door to move a baby stroller when he heard shots. Perez retreated inside, he said, and after hearing about seven gunshots, he came outside and saw the wounded man crawling up a staircase to the apartment building’s second floor.
“I went to check on him and the shots were in his back and his face was all white,” Perez said.
Police cordoned off the portion of Justin Avenue that juts north of Lake Street and dead-ends at a retaining wall bordering the Golden State (5) Freeway Wednesday morning as investigators scanned the crime scene with metal detectors in search of bullet casings and other evidence.
The pastries, a fitted baseball cap and a coffee cup littered the apartment building driveway as police searched the area. At least three bullet casings, from what police believe to be a semi-automatic handgun, were found.
About a block away, Franklin Elementary School immediately implemented a lock-down after parents who had been in the area heard the gunshots and reported the incident to school staff, Principal Stephen Williams said.
Students and teachers stayed locked in their classrooms for about 50 minutes before police indicated that the area was safe, Williams said.
“Whenever we get into a situation like that, the first thing is we evaluate the situation and if we deem that there’s any possibility [that] children’s safety might be compromised,” Williams said. “That’s what makes us decide to go into a lockdown. That’s our No. 1 priority — students’ safety.”
Police are requesting that anyone with information call (818) 507-7867.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of glendalenewspress.com.
Janesta wrote on May 2, 2008 8:03 AM:
" Your new webpage for the paper makes reading ANYTHING a real pain! PLEASE size all of your photos the same, so the print doesn't shift all over the page!
I am unable to complete this drive-by shooting article, because it makes me nauseous, with all the moving parts. It was difficult to even complete this short comment. "
I am unable to complete this drive-by shooting article, because it makes me nauseous, with all the moving parts. It was difficult to even complete this short comment. "
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