Police investigating shooting in Burbank neighborhood

A Burbank resident and a gardener working nearby were shot in a residential neighborhood Wednesday morning, police said.

Around 7:20 a.m., police responded to the 1700 block of Catalina Street, where the Burbank resident, 67, was shot multiple times in his abdomen outside his home, said Burbank Police Sgt. Claudio Losacco.

The gardener, 33, who was working several houses down across the street, was shot once in his foot as the suspect fled, according to his co-worker Rafael Rodriguez.

The shooter has not been identified but was described as a Caucasian or Hispanic man in his 20s with dark hair. He fled southbound on Catalina Street toward Victory Boulevard in a silver four-door sedan, Losacco said.

The Burbank resident, who was in serious condition, underwent surgery later that morning.

The gardener, meanwhile, was at a local hospital in good condition.

Investigators were working to identify the relationship between the suspect and victims.

Rodriguez, who said he’s worked in the neighborhood for 30 years, was gardening in a nearby backyard when his co-worker, the second shooting victim, rushed back to tell him a man had been shot.

He also said he’d been shot in the foot but was OK.

The pair then crossed the street where the victim, who he described as an older man who moved in just a month ago, was covered in blood.

That’s when the gardener noticed blood on his foot, where he’d been shot.

“I told him to wait for the paramedics,” Rodriguez said through a Spanish translator. “He sat down and waited next to the other victim.”

Detectives had closed down the 1700 block of Catalina Street to canvass the area and collect evidence.

A neighbor, who moved to the block just five days ago from an apartment in North Hollywood where he didn’t feel safe, was struck by the ironic welcome to the neighborhood.

“It’s a nice neighborhood — this is insane,” he said. “We were walking the dogs last night and chit chatting about how it’s a great house and everyone is so friendly and nice — and someone decides to mess it up.”

Parent Greg Anderson drove to the scene after receiving an automated call from Bret Harte Elementary and Luther Burbank Middle school informing them of the shooting.

Providencia school parents were also notified, according to the Burbank Unified School District.

None of the schools went on lockdown, police said.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Burbank police at (818) 238-3210.

--

Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @atchek