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Police Hunt Suspect In Love Triangle Rifle Attack

LANCASTER (CBS) —  Sheriff's deputies are on the hunt for a suspect they say shot a man in the back in a dispute over a woman, leaving the victim in critical condition.

Eleazar Lopez Morales, 43, allegedly used a .22 caliber rifle to shoot a man twice in the back just before 11 p.m. Thursday, said Captain Mike Parker of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

The shooting occurred at a home in the 9600 block of West Avenue B in the Antelope Acres area, about 10 miles west of Lancaster, Parker said.

The victim was taken to a hospital and is in critical condition. Morales allegedly fled the scene on foot and was last seen heading into the desert at 96th Street West and Avenue B.

Morales has black hair and brown eyes. He is 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds, was wearing jeans and a dark jacket and carrying a blanket.

Authorities said Morales used to live in Long Beach and has several friends there. It is unknown if Morales is armed, but detectives said he should be considered dangerous.

Authorities urged anyone who sees Morales not to contact him but instead call the Lancaster sheriff's station at (661) 948-8466 or 911.

 (©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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