Ralphs shooting: 18-year-old arrested in deadly altercation in Sun Valley, LAPD says

LOS ANGELES - A homicide investigation is underway following a shooting overnight inside a Ralphs grocery store in Sun Valley that left an 19-year-old man dead and an 18-year-old man wounded, officials said.

Foothill area patrol officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the grocery store in the Canyon Plaza Shopping Center, located at the intersection of Roscoe and Laurel Canyon boulevards, around 11:40 p.m. Tuesday after they received a radio call reporting a shooting.

Officers at the scene reviewed the store’s security footage and discovered a fight broke out between two groups of men and at one point, one of the men involved in the altercation took out a gun and started shooting. Two men were struck by gunfire, LAPD officials said. 

A 19-year-old man was taken to the hospital by an unknown individual where he was declared dead by hospital staff. His identity has not been released pending next of kin notification.

The second person struck by gunfire, age 18, was taken to Pacifica Hospital of the Valley in stable condition.

No injuries were reported to patrons or employees during the incident. LAPD investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from inside the grocery store. 

LAPD officers later located and arrested the suspected gunman, identified as 18-year-old Jorge Armeta. He was booked at Van Nuys Jail on a murder charge with a bail set at $2 million. 

"We have most of the people responsible for the incident, but we are still looking for other people including witnesses and those who were involved in the altercation," said LAPD Lt. Guy Golan. 

A motive for the shooting is unknown, but police believe it is not gang-related. 

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the LAPD Operations Valley Bureau at 818-374-9550. Those who wish to remain anonymous can submit tips online at lacrimestoppers.org.