Local News in Brief : Canyon Snipers Fire at Fishermen; 4 Arrested

Four men who apparently fired several shots at a group of fishermen near Big Tujunga Canyon above Sunland were arrested Sunday by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies.

The fishermen were forced to run for cover after several bullets fired by snipers struck within inches of them, Deputy Sam Jones said. However, no one was injured in the incident, which occurred about 7:45 a.m.

Shots were still being fired when four sheriff’s units arrived. The sounds of the shots helped deputies find the snipers, on a dirt highway turnout above Big Tujunga Dam, about 600 yards from where the fisherman were cornered by the gunfire, Jones said.

The men had two .22-caliber rifles outfitted with telescopes and a pair of binoculars, Jones said. Deputies said they found numerous expended cartridge cases on the ground.

Los Angeles residents Dean Takahashi, 22, Mauricio Garcia, 18, Rene Borje, 20, and Maurice Morgan II, 21, were charged with assault with a deadly weapon. They were being held at Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station in lieu of $2,000 bail each.

Investigators said the motive for the sniping attack was not immediately known.