LOS ANGELES (AP) – A man suspected of shooting at a crowded South Los Angeles bus stop, wounding five children and three adults, was arrested on Thursday, police said.

Billy Ray Hines, 24, was arrested walking on a street less than a half-mile from Wednesday’s scene after local anti-gang detectives recognized him in security surveillance video that recorded the shooting, Police Chief Bill Bratton said at a news conference.

“We believe the incident … was sparked by a dispute between the shooter and two other individuals who we believe were the intended victims of his shooting spree,” Bratton said. “During the course of that shooting spree … eight innocent individuals, including five children, were struck by his gunfire.”

The children were walking home from school when they were hit, he said.

The gunman opened fire at about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday at a busy intersection filled with shoppers, motorists and students.

Hines is a known member of the Crips gang with one burglary conviction, said Lt. Paul Stalker, a detective commander.

Hines was unarmed at the time of the arrest and police were looking for the weapon, an automatic handgun. Police said at least 15 rounds were fired.

Hines was booked for investigation of attempted murder and police said they would ask prosecutors to file 10 counts of attempted murder because the two targets were intended victims, although they have not been identified. Bratton said the motive was not known.

It wasn’t immediately known whether Hines had an attorney.

A 12-year-old girl who was shot in the chest remained hospitalized Thursday but “she’s going to be fine,” Officer Karen Smith said.

Smith said six other people were treated at hospitals and released: a 12-year-old girl who was shot in the arm; two 12-year-old boys were treated for leg wounds; a 15-year-old boy who was grazed in the thigh; a 43-year-old man was treated for a wounded knee; and a woman, 48, was shot in the face.

A 68-year-old man was treated at the scene for a wound to his right arm, she said.

All were expected to recover.

The shooting was the second major outbreak of gang violence in Los Angeles in a week. A Feb. 21 shootout between police officers and alleged gang members in the city’s northeast area left one gunman dead and another wounded.



AP Television Senior Producer Steve Fluty contributed to this report.

AP-ES-02-28-08 2236EST


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