Who Killed the Killer? Puzzle in Chinatown

Detectives were trying to resolve the mystery of who shot and killed a 22-year-old gunman who invaded a Chinatown restaurant late Monday, killed his former girlfriend and wounded two other employees.

At least 20 rounds were fired during the wild shooting spree that sent about a dozen patrons and workers at the Regent Seafood Restaurant scurrying for cover, Los Angeles Police Detective John Dunkin said Tuesday. When it was over, the gunman, a former waiter at the Regent, and his 26-year-old former girlfriend lay dead on the floor. Their names were being withheld pending notification of relatives.

Peter Kong, 37, and Marcus Lau, 44, were slightly wounded.

Dunkin said the gunman entered the restaurant in the 700 block of North Main Street about 10:30 p.m. Monday and began arguing with the young woman, who worked at the Regent as a hostess and cashier. The detective said it was not clear what the quarrel was about.

When the woman sat down at a table in the middle of the room, the gunman opened fire with a .38-caliber pistol, Dunkin said.

Police said the gunman then chased Lau outside, firing several times and hitting him once in the arm. Returning, he fired through the door of an office, where Kong was trying to call police, also hitting him in the arm.

When officers arrived, they found the gunman dead on the floor, with at least three bullet wounds in his body, Dunkin said, adding that no one could tell police who shot the gunman.

An autopsy was scheduled.