Union City, California

From Oakland’s InsideBayArea.com of February 3, 2007

Union City teen hurt in shooting

Police say attack followed argument between pedestrian, people inside vehicle

A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder after a teenage boy was wounded during a gunbattle in front of the Greenhaven Apartments early Friday, police said.

The 17-year-old victim suffered a nonlife-threatening wound to his lower body just after midnight when he and a 32-year-old man who was a passenger in his car got into an argument with the shooter, who was on foot, Lt. Jim Bizieff said.

The teen and the shooter, who was arrested and identified later as Barry Stewart, live in an the apartment complex on Alvarado Boulevard, Bizieff said.

Police do not know exactly what provoked the shooting, but said Friday afternoon that they still were investigating.

Although details remained unclear, police said early reports indicate the teen and his passenger were driving in front of the complex when they argued with Stewart, Bizieff said.

For an unknown reason, Stewart began shooting at the teenager's car, hitting him once, the lieutenant said.

The driver then crashed his car into a fence as he tried to get away, and his passenger pulled out a gun and returned fire.

The passenger was not arrested because authorities believe he was acting in self-defense, Bizieff said.

Moments after the shooting, police began receiving calls about it. When officers arrived, they found several bullet casings but could not find a victim, the lieutenant said.

Less than 10 minutes later, the wounded teen called police as he drove to a nearby hospital, the lieutenant said.

Officers and paramedics met the victim near Union City Boulevard and Whipple Road and then drove him to the hospital.

Through questioning, police were able to locate Stewart in his apartment at the complex and arrested him on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder as well as single counts of possessing marijuana for sale and being a felon in possession of ammunition, Bizieff said.