Local News in Brief : Elderly Man, Girl Hit in Drive-By Shooting

Two teen-agers have been arrested in a drive-by shooting outside a Taco Bell restaurant in Sepulveda in which a 69-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl were wounded, Los Angeles police said.

The two victims, both bystanders, were outside the restaurant at Orion Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard in Sepulveda when the gang-related shooting occurred about 9:20 p.m. Monday, said Detective Dan Reihl.

Witnesses told police that a brown Mercury Capri pulled up to the restaurant and one of three men in the vehicle stepped out, shouted gang slogans at three rival gang members also standing outside the restaurant and fired three blasts from a shotgun, hitting the victims.

The girl was taken to Panorama Community Hospital, where she was treated and released, Reihl said. The man received a superficial wound and was treated at the scene.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested near his Van Nuys residence shortly after the shooting, Reihl said. Police traced the youth from his license plate number, which witnesses copied during the incident. After further investigation, Reihl said police also arrested a 14-year-old boy in the shooting. Police said they are looking for a third suspect.

Both youths are being held at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, Reihl said.