Man, woman face charges in Burbank park shooting
Just before 6 p.m., Thursday, firefighters heard shots fired and responded to Robert Lundigan Park in Burbank, where they found a 21-year-old man in the street with a gunshot wound, police said.
Charges were filed Tuesday against two people — the suspected triggerman and the instigator — in last week’s gang shooting at Robert Lundigan Park in Burbank, officials said.
Erik Manooki, a 19-year-old gang member from Sunland, was charged with one count each of attempted murder and possession of ecstasy and Xanax while armed with a handgun, according to the Los Angeles County Superior Court complaint.
The first charge carries allegations that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang and that Manooki personally discharged a firearm.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old Burbank resident Candace Richardson was charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact of attempted murder with an allegation that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
Burbank police believe Manooki, urged by Richardson in an act of gang retaliation, shot a 21-year-old man Thursday evening at the park, located at 2701 Thornton Ave.
Just before 6 p.m., firefighters at a station nearby heard shots and responded to the scene, where they found the victim in the street with a gunshot wound to his lower body.
The victim was taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery and is listed in good condition.
One man was seen running from the scene and entering a vehicle, described as a four-door Lexus, occupied by two people, including a woman. The Lexus took off heading west on Thornton.
With information taken from people at and nearby the scene of the shooting, detectives tracked down a car they were familiar with that fit the description of the getaway vehicle.
On Friday morning, detectives observed Manooki get into the Lexus and drive to a home in the 200 block of South Keystone Street in Burbank. He was later seen exiting the home with Richardson and entering a different car and driving away.
At about 11 a.m., investigators, with assistance from patrol officers, stopped the car and detained the pair.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the Lexus and found a revolver with empty casings in the cylinder. The revolver is believed to be the gun used in the shooting, police said.
Manooki is being held in lieu of more than $2 million bail, while Richardson’s bail was set at $540,000.
