Request for Cigarette Results in Slaying

One teen-ager was killed and another was wounded in downtown Los Angeles Thursday morning when one asked for a cigarette from a passing stranger, who police said then pulled a handgun and shot them.

The victims, whose identities were withheld pending notification of relatives, were standing on the northeast corner of 5th and San Pedro streets about 9:15 a.m. when a man walked by, and one of them asked him for a cigarette, Detective Tom Brascia said.

The man pulled out a handgun and fired two shots, fatally wounding one youth, who was said to be about 18, in the stomach and hitting his 15-year-old companion in the leg, police said. The younger victim was taken to County-USC Medical Center.

The suspected gunman was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder, according to police. His identity was not immediately disclosed. The motive for the shooting was unknown.