Shots Fired at Set of Gang Film; 1 Hurt

A movie company completing a film on gang life in the El Sereno area of Los Angeles got a taste of the real thing early Saturday when shots were fired at the set during a drive-by incident, injuring a caterer, police said.

The gunfire from a passing car appeared to be a gang ambush, police said, but there are no suspects.

Vato De Atole Productions had been working in the El Sereno area on “Blood in--Blood Out,” which is about members of a Latino street gang, said Sgt. Robert Gruszecki.

The film company workers were breaking down the set when the shooting started, Gruszecki said. As caterers and other film workers talked with several policemen, at least five shots were fired.

A 27-year-old caterer, whose name was not released, was struck in the shoulder. The man was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was reported in “serious but not life-threatening” condition, Gruszecki said.

Police were unsure of a motive.

“It could have been anything,” he said. “There were some officers there. Maybe they were the targets. One of our big concerns was the number of actors roaming around the area dressed up in gang clothes. It could have been that, or any of 100 different reasons.”