20-year-old killed, another victim hospitalized in Long Beach shooting

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A 20-year-old man was killed and another victim was hospitalized in a shooting that broke out early Thursday morning in Long Beach.

Authorities received reports of shots fired in the area of 64th Street and Coronado Avenue around 4 a.m. When police arrived, two victims were found suffering from gunshot wounds.

One victim was taken to an area hospital in stable condition and was expected to survive. The other was pronounced dead at the scene.

The deceased individual was identified by his mother as Wylee Pritchett. She said her son was at a house visiting friends when someone drove up and fired several shots from a car.

"He got shot. A bullet went through my son and went through another kid, his other friend. He's in the hospital right now, my son's laying in the street over there," she said.

Dell Malone, the surviving victim's grandfather, said the shooting took place right in front of his house.

"I thought it was a firecracker. I thought the guy was being funny," said Malone said. "They did everything they could, and one other kid, he just lost it."

A resident who wished to remain anonymous said he saw a white Ford Explorer with its headlights turned off drive up to the group, and someone in the car opened fire.

"It's just scary, you know, you don't know what to think. Is it going to happen again? Should I move?" Malone said.

At this point in the investigation, police do not believe the shooting is gang related. Investigators are speaking to several witnesses to try to piece together exactly what happened.

"This is not an area that typically has gang activity or we see have a high crime rate," said Lt. Greg Schirmer with the Long Beach Police Department.

A motive behind the crime is not yet known. Also, police do not have a clear description of the suspect or suspects.

This was the second time a deadly shooting took place in that north Long Beach neighborhood, authorities said.

The investigation was ongoing. If you have any information about this incident, you're urged to contact Long Beach police.