SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) — An investigation is underway after five people were shot outside of a corner store in South Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon. Investigators believe the incident may be gang-related.
Los Angeles police were called to the scene outside of Seven Market at Figueroa Street and Manchester Avenue around 2:30 p.m.
“At about 2:30 this afternoon, our officers received a radio call of a shooting here at 8501 South Figueroa. When they arrived, they were able to confirm that we did have five victims of a shooting at this time, and they are being treated as we speak,” said Capt. Michael Bland with LAPD. “At this time, all of this is preliminary, we do have casings here at the scene, but we’re walking the neighborhood, looking for video to confirm exactly what happened. And as you can see behind us, our officers and our investigators are at the scene working through this as we speak.”
AIR7 video from above the scene shows police tape, a lot of debris and evidence markers outside of the corner store.
Initially, police said one of the victims had died. In a later update, LAPD said that victim is still alive and in “extremely critical condition.” A second victim is also in critical condition, according to police. LAPD did not provide details on the conditions of the other three victims taken to the hospital.
LAPD said the victims include four men and one woman between the ages of 19 and 35 years old.
Police said three male suspects in hoodies fled the scene in a white Honda Civic.
A preliminary investigation determined multiple vehicles fled the scene, according to LAPD. Investigators believe there were two or three shooters, but they don’t know who was in what vehicle.
Police said the same suspects could be connected to another shooting just moments later and a few blocks away. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said one of its deputies was on a traffic stop when a vehicle racing by opened fire on the deputy. Thankfully, the deputy was not hurt.
“It’s an ongoing investigation. Our investigators are here. Our detectives are here. We continue to scour the location for video, for additional witnesses, for additional evidence. We will continue investigating this investigation with whatever resources that we need to,” Capt. Adrien Gonzalez said.
Investigators say at this point, it does not appear the shooting stemmed from any kind of robbery. They believe it may have been a gang-related shooting, but the investigation is ongoing.
Deadly gunfire on Saturday night that claimed the life of a 35-year-old man and injured two others at 80th Street and Hoover Street may have been the trigger for the latest violence. Investigators say Tuesday’s incident could be possible gang retaliation.
LAPD now has gang officers and community violence interventionists working to de-escalate tensions in hopes of preventing any more bloodshed.
“This incident of violence has disrupted the peace and will absolutely not be tolerated. I’m working with community leaders and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell to prevent future incidents,” Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “LAPD will increase their presence in South L.A. Community violence interventionists are working to de-escalate community tensions and support victims and their families in the aftermath of these tragic events. I call on all neighbors, residents and young people to be peaceful. We will come together and we will support one another.”
The mayor got a firsthand look at the crime scene and promised swift action.
“We will find the perpetrators of this crime and hold them accountable,” Bass said.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell noted that the shooting happened near a school as students were leaving for the day.
“You look at this shooting, occurred about 2:30 this afternoon, there’s a school right across the street. That’s the time, generally, that school is letting out. The senselessness in this, the callousness of where they did it, when they did it, should really hit all of us,” McDonnell said.
