VENTURA : Boy Wounded When Caught in Cross-Fire

A 14-year-old boy was shot in the arm in downtown Ventura when he was caught in the cross-fire between three men who were chasing a fourth man.

The teen-ager, whose name was not released by police, and a friend were using a pay phone in the 300 block of Santa Clara Street when the incident occurred about 9:30 p.m. Monday. The boy, who lives at Point Mugu Naval Air Weapons Station, was treated and released from the Ventura County Medical Center that night.

Lt. Mike Tracy said the shot was fired from a long distance away as the 14-year-old stood between the suspects and the intended victim. Tracy said seven to eight shots were fired from a semiautomatic pistol.