LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A $50,000 reward was offered today for information that helps police solve the killing of a man who was gunned down in a drive-by attack in Highland Park about eight months ago. Freddy Carranza, 26, of Highland Park, was fatally wounded about 8:30 p.m. March 11 in the 200 block of N. Avenue 53, the Los Angeles Police Department reported.

Carranza was standing in the second-floor breezeway of an apartment building when a black compact car occupied by three young men drove past and a shot was fired, striking him in the chest. He died at the scene. Carranza was visiting friends after going to see a movie, according to investigators, who were unsure of a motive for the crime. Police said the suspects may have been gang members, but Carranza was not.

The Los Angeles City Council offered the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects. Anyone with information about the case was urged to call detectives at (213) 847-4261, or (877) LAPD-24-7. Also, tipsters can text CRIMES, beginning with the letters LAPD, or use the LAPD Web site www.lapdonline.org.