1 dead, 4 injured in shootings in quiet Los Angeles neighborhood
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Police Department went on a citywide tactical alert Thursday afternoon after multiple shooting in the Palms neighborhood left one person dead and four others injured.
CBS Los Angeles reported officers responded to a call of shots fired at Woodbine Street and Vinton Avenue shortly after 3 p.m. Helicopter reporter Stu Mundel said a body could be seen at the intersection. A second person at nearby Woodbine Park was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries.
A few blocks away at Clarington Avenue, another person, possibly a shooting victim, was being treated by officers and L.A. City Fire Department personnel. That person was later transported to the hospital with unknown injuries.
Police also responded to a call of shots fired at the corner of National Boulevard and Overland Avenue Thursday afternoon. It was unclear which shooting occurred first.
Witnesses told police a white SUV with bullet holes fled that scene, where a convenience store is located. Police are investigating a possible stabbing with an ice pick at that scene, CBS Los Angeles' Dave Lopez reported.
In total, five shooting victims were reported, including the person fatally struck. Two of the shooting victims transported themselves to the hospital.
The LAPD said officers were looking for at least one suspect. It was not immediately clear how or if the incidents were related.
A witness told CBS Los Angeles he was near Woodbine Park when shots rang out.
"I didn't see him pull the gun out I just heard the gun shots and got started," Zack Meyer said, adding that the gunman was on foot.
"[The victims] were in the park. They were just hanging around, drinking... he just shot off randomly. I heard one of the victims that were shot, he had blood all over his head, he said, 'Why is he shooting us? Why is he shooting us?' That's what he said."
Palms resident Lee Wallach said the violence was unusual for the area.
"Normally this is a very quiet area. The parks here, quiet. Motor Avenue is wonderful. People walk here at night. People feel safe here around Motor Avenue and in Palms," Wallach insisted.
Nearby Palms Elementary School and Palms Middle School were placed on lockdown as a result of the shootings. Those lockdowns were lifted around 4:17 p.m.