(April 14, 2007) -- Gunfire flew at midafternoon April 14 in the area of 4th St. and Junipero Ave. as a result of what witnesses say was a dispute involving people in three cars.

LBPD Public Information Officer Dina Zipalski told LBReport.com officers don't know if what occurred is gang related and [as of late afternoon April 14] are investigating the circumstances.

PIO Zipalski says LBPD received a "shots fired" call at 2:23 p.m. and officers arrived at 2:27 p.m. [computer entered time, see below] and found the parties involved gone with no victims present.

She said witness statements indicate three vehicles stopped, people from the vehicles got into a fight...and during the fight someone fired a gun [more than one shot, exact number uncertain as we post]. The parties then got back in their vehicles...and drove off, PIO Zipalski said.

A source not affiliated with LBPD but knowledgeable in law enforcement matters told LBReport.com the four minute time between call-received and officer on-scene, assuming it reflects what happened in the real world, is quite respectable...especially in view of the Grand Prix weekend when resources may be strained.

[Our recollection is that a 1990s era City Hall/LBPD "Strategic Plan" strove to achieve a four minute response time on priority one calls.]

PIO Zipalski said the exact time between call-received and arrival on-scene may be a bit shorter since there are occasionally instances in which as a practical matter an officer may not instantaneously radio his/her arrival on scene when confronted with an exigent circumstance.