GUNFIRE FROM DRUNKEN FIGHT KILLS 1, WOUNDS 1 IN ENCINO.

Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer

After a night of heavy drinking, two men got into a fight and exchanged gunshots early Saturday, leaving one man dead and the other hospitalized, police said.

Police still are investigating the cause of the dispute and who fired the first shot. There have been no arrests.

``We believe both guys were drinking heavily,'' said Los Angeles police Capt. Rick Swanston of the West Valley division.

Officers responded to a call of gunshots fired about 7 a.m. They arrived to find Russell Arlon Roe, 43, inside his home at 17831 Martha St. with at least three gunshot wounds to the head and torso. He was taken to Northridge Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 9 a.m.

John Luis Bracamonte, 36, was later found collapsed on his cousin's lawn three blocks away on Burbank Boulevard. He had one gunshot wound to the torso and was taken to Northridge Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

Police said the wounded Bracamonte ran out of Roe's house, stopped at his home about a block away and then fled to his cousin's house.

Police found about a dozen guns at Roe's house, including at least one rifle. They also found what appeared to be a grenade in Bracamonte's house, but the LAPD bomb squad later determined it was a replica.

Police said Bracamonte was looking for his live-in girlfriend, Kim Railton, 28. His search took him to Roe's house at about 3 a.m. Saturday. Police do not know if Bracamonte found Railton there, and were still searching for her late Saturday.

Neighbors said Roe and Bracamonte met after the latter began renting in the neighborhood in January.

Roe, who was unemployed, was living with his 80-year-old mother, Mae. Police said she was home during the shooting but remained asleep since her hearing is impaired. She was unavailable for comment Saturday.

``The mother didn't know anything had happened until paramedics and police came,'' Swanston said.

The shooting left residents in shock. They called the crime unthinkable for the quiet neighborhood of one-story homes and small but neatly trimmed lawns.

``Nothing problem before,'' said Vriz Petrossian, a 61-year-old native of Armenia who has lived in the area for 20 years. ``It's a very good neighborhood.''

A man who asked to be referred to only as Michael said he was a friend of Roe's for eight years.

``I was in shock when I heard he was dead,'' he said, describing Roe as ``a good, generous friend.''

He said he and Roe, a machinist and gun enthusiast, used to spend time at target ranges in the Angeles National Forest.

``He was very careful with guns. He would never keep a loaded gun'' in the house, the man said. ``He was very meticulous with them.''

Michael also said Roe had been divorced for some years but was still close to his daughter, who is in her early teens.