Detectives arrested two men in Downey June 13, both sought in connection with a reported shooting outside a party from Sunday.
The men were located less than 24 hours after the incident happened and were found in the same white Mercedez Benz the suspects were seen fleeing in after one shot was allegedly fired into the air from an AR-15 rifle.
Arrested were Andy Cuellar, 21, from Norwalk, and Robert Cruz, 23, from Bellflower. Both men were taken into custody by Glendora Police and were booked on suspicion of embezzlement. The white Mercedez Benz was discovered to be an embezzled rental car, police said.
Cruz may likely be additionally charged with negligent discharge of a firearm when the case is sent to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, although both men had knowledge of the rifle being in the vehicle, police said.
A partygoer in the 1700 block of South Bender Avenue provided officers with the license plate of the Mercedez Benz that fled the location. As the car was driving away, Cruz allegedly fired one round into the air from the driver side rear window June 12, said Detective Russell Ziino of Glendora Police.
“There was an argument between one of the partygoers and the people in the car,” Ziino said.
Witnesses reported the weapon as an AR-15 to police.
Detectives recovered a bullet casing June 16 near where the shot was fired after a resident near Bender Avenue and Carter Drive discovered it. The casing was from a .223-caliber round, Ziino said.
No damage to surrounding property and no injuries were reported, leading detectives to believe the shot was fired into the air.
Cruz posted $20,000 bond. Cuellar was issued a citation and released, according to Glendora Police booking records.
County records show Cuellar had a scheduled court appearance June 15 in the West Covina Courthouse. Future court date information for both Cuellar and Cruz was not yet available.
