2 dead, several injured in 5 South LA shootings

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Two people died and several others were injured in five shootings throughout the South Los Angeles area Monday afternoon, Los Angeles police said.

Multiple calls about the shootings, which occurred blocks apart, prompted police at the South Bureau to go on modified tactical alert.

The first shooting happened around 2 p.m. near Vermont and Florence avenues. According to police, one person died at the scene. The second person died at a hospital.

Detectives say the incident was a deadly case of road rage. The trouble allegedly began as the two victims, traveling in a white car, and the two suspects, traveling in a dark SUV, got into an argument as they headed westbound on Florence Avenue. The two parties ended up at a nearby car wash where the fight turned deadly.

"The occupants of both vehicles are arguing, having a verbal argument, they both come to rest inside this parking lot of this car wash," LAPD Lt. Jeff Nolte said. "Both occupants in both vehicles get out, a shouting match ensues and one of the suspect pulls out a gun and starts firing."

The 26 and 33-year-old victims were both pronounced dead at a local hospitals. The two suspects fled the scene and remain on the run.

A drive-by shooting happened about an hour later at 65th Street and Vermont Avenue. One person was injured and taken to the hospital in stable condition, police said. Neighbors say a bullet narrowly missed two young boys inside a home. Others said they heard close to a dozen shots.

At last one injury shooting per hour was reported in the area throughout the afternoon, Lt. John Jenal of LAPD's 77th Division said.

A woman's car was hit by gunfire near 54th Street and Normandie Avenue around 4 p.m. A man was shot in the leg at at Manchester and Normandie avenues, and in a matter of hours, the gun violence took its toll in the LAPD's 77th Division. Two were killed and two others injured.

"Innocent people getting killed for no reason, you know, it's like we all need to get it together, and just, you know, make something out of ourselves," Qnique Davis of South Los Angeles said. "This just makes no sense."

The incidents are not believed to be related, but some of them may be gang-related, Jenal said. Suspect and vehicle descriptions for the shootings were not immediately available.