Local News in Brief : 2 Boys Shot Near School

Two boys walking home from a Sylmar junior high school were shot and two teen-age brothers were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder Tuesday in a drive-by shooting that authorities said may have been triggered by a gang grudge.

Ninth-graders Francisco Plascencia and Hugo Lopez, both 14, were wounded when a hail of bullets was fired from a car into a group of students leaving the Olive Vista Junior High School campus, Los Angeles police said.

Francisco was hospitalized in serious but stable condition with a wound to his side. Hugo was in stable condition with a knee wound.

The two suspects were arrested about half an hour after the 3:10 p.m. shooting. They were identified by police as 13- and 16-year-old Pacoima brothers.

Investigators said the 13-year-old fired a six-inch, .38-caliber pistol into the crowd after his brother stopped the car at the curb. Police said the weapon was found in the suspects’ car.

Investigators initially described the alleged gunman as a gang member and said his older brother was a “gang associate.” However, police said they were not certain of the gang affiliation.