Man Slain, 2 Held as Dispute Leads to Gunfire

NORTHRIDGE — A Canyon Country man died early Saturday five hours after being shot in a dispute between the occupants of two cars on White Oak Avenue, police said.

Minutes after the shooting at 7 p.m. Friday, police detained three men, two of whom were later arrested on suspicion of killing Phillip Bard, 19, who died at 12:15 a.m.

Bard was with two other people in a car traveling west on Plummer Street, according to Los Angeles Police Det. Mike Oppelt. The three got into a dispute with people in another car. As both cars turned onto White Oak, Oppelt said, several shots were fired and Bard was hit in the chest.

The car carrying Bard then hit a parked car, Oppelt said, and Bard and the driver were taken to a hospital. Police would not release the identity or condition of the injured driver.

Two motorcycle patrolmen stopped the car from which shots were fired, Oppelt said. One man who was detained for questioning was later released, but Franklin Mejia, 20, of Sun Valley, and Sergio Ramos, 21, of Arleta, were booked and jailed at the Devonshire station.

Police were still investigating the nature of the dispute that prompted the shooting and urge anyone with information to call (818) 756-8285.