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Restaurant Employee Shot Dead on Ventura Blvd.

Police are searching for one gunman after an employee at Hoagie & Wings was shot and killed last night.

Raul Lopez, a Hispanic male in his mid 30s who was working at on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks, was shot in the chest last night at approximately 11:10pm.

The shooter was a black male, approximately 6'2" in height and 250 pounds, according to Officer Hensley of the Van Nuys Police Department.

Lopez was shot once in the chest and died en route to the hospital. 

The shooter is at large. 

The shooting took place on the 14500 block of Ventura Boulevard, just west of Van Nuys Boulevard. 

Sources tell Patch that the shooter came in with a group of males, got into a shouting argument with Lopez, and shot him once in the chest while heading out the door.

"There was some type of dispute that occurred that resulted in the shooting and the death of our victim," said Lt. Jim Gavin of the Van Nuys Station.

The victim apparently did not know the shooter, Gavin said. Police said the victim got into a fight inside the restaurant, resulting in the shooting. 

"At least at this point it doesn't appear to be gang-related," Gavin said, adding that he did not know what sparked the confrontation.

Gavin did not have a description of the vehicle the shooter fled in, but according to one unverified source, the suspect vehicle was a Black Cadillac Escalade that went south on Cedros.

 

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A. Abrams May 19, 2013 at 06:05 pm
As a parent who spent over 12 hours on site volunteering at CHAMPSFEST, I must say that CHAMPSRead More Parent's assessment above of the circumstances is exactly correct.
CHAMPS Parent May 19, 2013 at 05:43 pm
Dear Hollietiger, CHAMPSFEST2013 was an awesome experience for my child. She was there all day andRead More had the best time. When I dropped her off I saw a slew of security personnel checking bags and wanding. She told me security was there immediately and a medic on hand. Her friend is fine and is going to school Monday morning. The hammer was from a vendor. The kid could have grabbed one of the stakes from a tent or a chair. Things happen, but I trust that the school and the administrators did the right thing. It's very counter productive and irresponsible to write things when you don't know the facts. I will support and trust CHAMPS and my daughter is already looking forward to next years CHAMPSFEST.
Evan Sanford May 19, 2013 at 05:02 pm
First of all, I don't know where your child got his information but he is quite uninformed. HeRead More obviously was believing all the rumors spreading at then end of the event. The victim's skull WAS NOT "cracked open and ... bleeding everywhere." CHAMPSFEST 2013 was a public event, therefore open to the PUBLIC. CHAMPS (the school) has no control of mental competency of attendants from other schools. Security was there in droves to protect the entire venue. As far as nothing being reported that is also FALSE. The kid was NOT taken away in handcuffs. Police were there and it is confidential information that was not released to the general population and is not a matter of public record. Second of all, the resources provided by the city were there as a backup (you mentioned "2 ambulances, police fire trucks... Not really sure what police fire trucks are but that's besides the point). We wanted to make sure that in this case of emergency all bases were covered and the safety of the victim was going to be treated properly. Next time you hear about an incident, I would consider the reputation of the people who worked so hard to put on the event and let them handle the situation before posting incorrect information to the entire community.