Last Updated on April 5, 2017 by CCAR Staff
HACIENDA HEIGHTS >> Authorities said a Hacienda Heights man allegedly tried to gun down an Uber driver he mistook for a rival gang member early Sunday.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday charged 23-year-old Bryan Orozco with attempted murder, possession of firearm by a felon and unlawful possession of ammunition, according to spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani.
She said his Tuesday arraignment at West Covina Superior Court was continued to April 25. She added that bail was set at $1 million.
The charges stem from a shooting that occurred Sunday morning in the 1700 block of Eastleigh Avenue.
Sgt. Patrick Tapia of the Sheriff’s Operation Safe Streets said an Uber driver parked on the street waiting for a fare when three men approached his car. One of the suspects opened fire.
Tapia said the rounds hit the car but missed the driver. The suspects took off running.
“According to the victim, one of the suspects ran to a house,” Tapia said.
The Special Enforcement Bureau — the sheriff’s version of SWAT — responded to a possible barricade. Tapia said only the suspect’s relatives came out of the house.
Deputies later found the suspect in the neighborhood, he added. OSS, which is the department’s gang unit, also served a search warrant at the home and recovered two handguns, according to Tapia. Investigators are waiting for ballistic test results to find out if the guns were used in the shooting.
The motive appears to be a case of mistaken identity.
The suspects allegedly belong to a Valinda gang which has been clashing with a La Puente gang for the past couple of months, according to Tapia. He attributed several shootings to the two gangs.
Tapia said the suspects saw the Uber driver on Sunday and thought he was from the rival gang.
Gang deputies are still looking for the two suspects who were only described as Latinos between 20 to 25. Anyone with information about the two outstanding suspects and shooting is asked to call Sgt. Patrick Tapia at the Sheriff’s Industry station, 626-330-3322.
