Boy Fires Into Crowded Schoolyard, Injuring 3

A 16-year-old boy allegedly fired into a crowded East Los Angeles schoolyard Friday to avenge the death of a fellow gang member and slightly injured three students, authorities said.

The youth, whose name was not released because of his age, allegedly fired five shots at rival gang members in the yard at Belvedere Junior High School in the 400 block of North Record Avenue, Sheriff’s Deputy Dean Scoville said. Abut 1,000 students were in the schoolyard at the time, he said.

Three 15-year-old boys, who were not the intended victims, were slightly injured. The injured youths suffered graze wounds and bruises and were treated by the school nurse. One bullet struck a student’s belt buckle, Scoville said.

The suspect was caught nearby by school guards who saw the shooting, Scoville said. The youth was booked on suspicion of attempted murder at the East Los Angeles sheriff’s station.