By Lookout Staff

February 5 -- Police arrested eight suspects shortly after a male teenager and a young man were shot and wounded in the public parking lot just north of the Santa Monica Pier early Sunday morning.

Police responding to the shooting around 3 a.m. found one victim with a gunshot wound in the stomach, the other in the right leg, police said.

The victims -- who were from El Monte -- were transported to local hospitals where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The first officer who arrived at the scene provided a description of the suspects’ vehicle, an SUV Suburban, said Lt. Dan Salerno.

Minutes later, another officer spotted a vehicle that fit the description travelling eastbound on the 10 freeway at Centinela Avenue, he said.

“They yielded, there was no pursuit and all eight (passengers) were arrested,” Salerno said.

The names of the suspects, who are all from Paicoma, have not been released. A gun was found in the vehicle, police said.

California Highway Patrol officers temporarily closed the freeway for an investigation.

Anyone with information should call the Robbery/Homicide of the Santa Police Department at 310-458-8451 or the Watch Commander’s Office at 310-458-8426.

Callers who wish to provide anonymous information may also call the We-Tip national hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463). Callers with information that leads to an arrest and conviction become eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.