Suspect Shot In North Hollywood Gang Extortion Plot: LAPD

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — One suspect was wounded Monday in a shootout that erupted at a North Hollywood market whose owner had been the target of gang extortion attempts in recent weeks, police said.

Three other suspects, all believed to be Armenian gang members, fled in a white Audi following the 8:13 a.m. shooting in the parking lot of the Royal Fresh Market at 12811 Sherman Way, Sgt. Frank Preciado of the LAPD Media Relations Section said.

According to an LAPD statement, ``detectives had been investigating an extortion plot at the location for the past week. Graffiti was discovered on the outside wall of the business that stated ``Pay me $100,000.00."

``Unbeknownst to the suspects, the store owner was at the store (this morning). He was armed and a shooting transpired at that point," Preciado said. ``To our knowledge, only one suspect was shot."

The suspects were armed with automatic weapons and possibly a rifle, the sergeant said.

Paramedics took the injured suspect, whose name was not immediately released, to an area hospital with what was described as a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to the LAPD.

The store owner was not injured during the shootout, said Officer Drake Madison of the LAPD's Media Relation Section.

Sherman Way was closed at Coldwater Canyon Avenue for the investigation.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. PLEASE REFRESH THE SCREEN FOR UPDATES.

City News Service contributed to this report.