Police arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder for his role in a possible gang-related shooting and assault Saturday in front of the Burbank Town Center Mall.
One man suffered a single gunshot wound to the lower torso and another suffered injuries to his head and face from being physically attacked, said Burbank Police Sgt. Adam Cornils.
Paramedics were dispatched to the vicinity of San Fernando and Magnolia boulevards at 1:27 a.m., said a Verdugo Fire Communications dispatcher.
One victim was rushed to Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center and another to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, the dispatcher said.
None of the injuries appear to be life threatening, Cornils said.
The victims exited the front doors of the mall, leaving a movie theater, when they were approached by a group of approximately five men and were attacked for an unknown reason, Cornils said.
During the melee, a single shot was fired, striking one of the victims. All of the suspects then fled on foot. When officers arrived, they found the two victims. Additional arriving officers were able to locate a possible suspect, who ran from the officers, he said.
“A short foot pursuit ensued across the Interstate (5) freeway, at which time the suspect was taken into custody,” the police sergeant said. “Officers recovered a handgun near where the suspect was first observed by officers.”
Albert Vasquez, a resident of Los Angeles, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, Cornils said.
Burbank police detectives asked anyone with any information regarding the shooting and assault to call them at (818) 238-3210.
—City News Service