Two men were shot during an attempted bike theft on the Los Angeles River Bike Path Friday night.
The LA Times reports the victims, a 27-years old man and his 47-year old father-in-law, were riding with their wives in the Elysian Park section of the bikeway near Riverside Drive when they were confronted by two men at 8:55 pm.
According to KCBS-2, the two suspected gang members demanded the men’s bicycles; when they refused to hand them over, they were both shot in the legs.
The black-clad thieves, estimated as approximately 16 and 30-years old, fled with one of the bicycles.
Both men were transported to a local hospital; KNBC-4 says one of the victims may be in critical condition. Their wives were uninjured.
They reportedly live in the surrounding neighborhood, and were simply out for an evening bike ride.
While the area is generally considered safe, there have been other reports of bike riders confronted by thieves in the area. In 2013, two members of the Frogtown gang were arrested for assaulting and robbing a cyclist on the bike path.
This should be a reminder to always use extra caution when riding on any bike path after dark, where you may be hidden from public view.
