Man shoots wife, kidnaps 2 sons

An Amber Alert was issued Sunday after a man allegedly shot his estranged wife and kidnapped his sons in Sunland.

According to Officer Karen Smith of the Los Angeles Po- lice Department, the mother dropped off her two sons at her estranged husband’s home in the 10400 block of McBroom Street, about 10:40 a.m.

Police said the couple argued and the man shot his wife at least 13 times, but she was able to speak before being taken to a hospital.

“He told his wife that he was going to kill her family and . . . flee to Mexico,” Smith said.

The woman, whom police declined to identify, is in serious condition but expected to survive.

Jose Luis Ortega, 26, then allegedly drove off with 5-year-old Diego and 3-year-old Luis.

An itinerant construction worker, he was reportedly driving a black 1998 Ford Ranger truck with license plate 7Z19738.

Ortega has black hair and brown eyes, is 5 feet 6 and weighs about 180 pounds, Smith said.

Diego was wearing a blue-and-green checkered shirt, blue jeans and white shoes. Luis was wearing a red checkered shirt and white shoes.

Police said they had received several calls as a result of the electronic alert, but as of Sunday evening Ortega had not been found.

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-- Ruben Vives