REPUTED GANG MEMBER CHARGED IN ASSAULT ON BYSTANDERS.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Charges were filed Friday against a reputed gang member accused of hitting two innocent bystanders during a gunbattle with other gang members, then turning his weapon on deputies.

George Ruiz, 19, of Palmdale faces two counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted murder on a peace officer and one count of shooting at an inhabited vehicle, officials said.

``He shot two people in their car - two people who weren't involved in the incident,'' said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lt. Dan Rosenberg. ``Then he turned on deputies.''

The incident began about 11:40 p.m. April 1 as deputies were responding to a 911 call of a disturbance in a shopping center parking lot in the 3000 block of Palmdale Boulevard.

When deputies arrived, they found two large groups of gang members shooting at one another.

Deputies called for backup and focused their attention on Ruiz, who they said was shooting wildly. He turned his weapon on them, they said, but was shot by deputies before he could fire.

Ruiz remains in stable condition at a local hospital with gunshot wounds to the lower torso.

The other gang members fled during the confrontation.

Two Palmdale residents, ages 18 and 19, were hit by Ruiz's wild gunfire, investigators said. They were taken to Antelope Valley Hospital by a relative, but their condition was unknown.

Investigators said they found dozens of shell casings in the parking lot and street nearby and recovered a handgun from Ruiz.

Greg Botonis, [phone]

greg.botonis(at)dailynews.com