Three people were wounded and a gunman was found dead this week in a shooting at a Lancaster restaurant, authorities said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded about 12:10 a.m. Monday to the restaurant in the 42100 block of Sierra Highway after receiving reports from a caller who said a person inside the restaurant had shot at security guards and was possibly still inside the building, according to a department statement. The gunman was later identified as Joseph Quirola, 51, of Palmdale.
Arriving deputies found a 44-year-old security guard suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body and an employee suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound in front of the restaurant.
The security guard told deputies the shooter was still inside, and deputies attempted to communicate with the suspect to no avail, officials said.
LASD Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) units were called and made contact with a 43-year-old woman who had suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound and was still inside the building, authorities said.
The SEB units entered and found the 51-year-old gunman suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body and the wounded woman inside the restaurant, according to the LASD.
Quirola was pronounced dead at the scene.
The three victims were taken to a hospital. The employee and the woman were treated for their wounds, while the security guard was reported to be in serious condition.
A news videographer at the scene reported the incident started with an altercation inside the Culichi Town restaurant and that a man pulled out a gun and got into a shootout with a security guard.
No further details were released at press time.
Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
