Boy, 17, Arrested in Gang Shooting Outside Restaurant

MISSION HILLS —  Los Angeles police have arrested a 17-year-old youth in connection with the shooting of a rival gang member at a Taco Bell in Granada Hills, detectives said Friday.

Devonshire Division police arrested the youth at his Mission Hills house at 10 p.m. Thursday, Detective Tom Broad said.

Police believe the youth shot 21-year-old Raul Benitez of Sylmar in the parking lot of the Taco Bell in the 11100 block of Woodley Avenue on May 14, Broad said.

The juvenile had been trying unsuccessfully to start a friend’s truck in the parking lot and confronted Benitez when he was on his way into the restaurant, Broad said. After the two argued, Benitez threw a beer can at the youth, prompting the juvenile to pull a gun and fire at Benitez several times, wounding him once in the back, Broad said.

The youth and his friends fled without their truck, and Benitez was taken to a hospital by friends, police said. Later, a youth arrived at the scene on a bicycle to retrieve the truck.

Another youth who returned to pick up the discarded bicycle was questioned by police, and that led detectives to the 17-year-old suspect, Broad said. Benitez later identified the shooting suspect from police photographs.

Benitez remains hospitalized in serious condition, police said. Detectives will ask that the youth be charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.