Gardener Shot 3 Times While Working Outside Highland Park Home

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Highland Park resident returned home Saturday and found the family's gardener suffering from three gunshot wounds.

Los Angeles Police Officer Sally Madera said the shooting was reported to police about 10 a.m. in the 1800 block of North Avenue 51.

The victim, identified as a quiet, hard-working family man in his 40s, was rushed to the hospital where he was said to be listed in stable condition.

KCAL9's Chase Cain spoke to several neighbors shaken that such a violent act could happen in their vicinity.

"We got nice neighbors. I can't figure out why they did that to the gardener," said one neighbor.

Cain reported that no one apparently saw who pulled the trigger.

"I heard one shot," said neighbor Olga Lopez, "Then I heard another one. I didn't hear any yelling, no screaming, nothing."

The shooting does not appear to be gang-related, according to the LAPD.

The fact the shooting seems to be random is another reason neighbors describe themselves as being particularly rattled.

"It's scary because we've been here for 27 years. It's never happened, nothing like this. It's scary," says Carmen Cervantes.