Shooting leaves 1 dead in South Los Angeles following rash of gun violence nearby
An investigation was underway after two people were shot, one fatally, at a South Los Angeles shopping center just hours after a separate shooting that left several others injured nearby.
The latest incident happened around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday at a shopping center parking lot on Century Boulevard and Main Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police said three men drove up to the victims, got out and shot them before driving off.
A 25-year-old man died and a 51-year-old man was taken to the hospital in unknown condition.
Investigators believe the incident may be gang-related.
The deadly gunfire comes as the investigation continues into another shooting that injured five people outside a corner store nearly two miles away. Authorities believe that shooting was also gang-related, but it's unclear if they are related.
That incident happened around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday outside of Seven Market at Figueroa and Manchester Avenue, according to the LAPD.
AIR7 video from above shows police tape, a lot of debris and evidence markers outside of the corner store.
The victims in that shooting 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.
Police said the same suspects in Tuesday afternoon's gunfire 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.
Meanwhile, 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 violence outside the corner store. Investigators say it 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 Tuesday afternoon's 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.
