Car Riddled With Bullets in Pasadena Attack; Man and Woman Inside Escape Injury

A man and woman managed to escape unharmed after a group of assailants opened fire on their car in Pasadena on Saturday afternoon, police said.

The shooting took place about 6 p.m in the 1900 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Burgess said. The victims’ car was struck by gunfire multiple times, shattering a window and flattening a tire, but the man and woman inside were not hurt.

A 19-year-old Glendora woman and an 18-year-old Colton man had stopped at RJ’s Liquor, 27 E. Woodbury Road in Altadena, shortly before the attack, according to the lieutenant.

While the woman was inside making a purchase, the man noticed six other men in the parking lot staring at him, Burgess said. When the victims left, the group got into a car and followed them.

The pursuing car pulled alongside the victims and a rear passenger pointed a handgun at the victims, he said. The attackers then suddenly cut off the victims and came to a stop, prompting the driver of the victims’ car to make a sudden U-turn in an attempt to get away from the attackers.

The group of assailants got out of their car, and two or more of them opened fire with handguns, Burgess said. The car was struck “numerous” times, but the driver and passenger were not injured.

Police said the victims drove to neighboring La Cañada Flintridge, stopped and called for help.

Investigators recovered bullet casings from the shooting scene along Fair Oaks Avenue, Burgess said.

The suspects’ vehicle was initially described as a black car, possibly a Honda, with tinted windows, he said. Detailed descriptions of the attackers, themselves, were not available.

A motive was unclear, but detectives suspected the attack may have been gang related, he added.

Anyone with information can reach the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.