3 killed after gunfire erupts from car in North Hollywood, LAPD says; suspects at large

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Three people were killed and another wounded in a shooting Monday night in North Hollywood, the LAPD said.

The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. near the corner of Moorpark Street and Lankershim Boulevard, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department. The scene was across the street from St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, as well as a few nearby restaurants.

Police said the gunfire erupted from a silver sedan with three or four men inside. The suspects fired at a black sedan and then quickly fled.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities. Two of the shooting victims drove themselves in a black Mercedes-Benz sedan to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, where they died a short time later.

The Mercedes remained parked in front of the medical center's emergency room entrance. The outdoor area was cordoned off with yellow police tape.

None of the deceased were immediately identified. The surviving victim remained hospitalized in unknown condition.

No suspects were in custody and their descriptions were not available..

The motive for the shooting also remains under investigation.

Shootings reported by the LAPD in North Hollywood have varied from year to year. However, the last few years have seen elevated levels on par with increases seen as far back as 2010.

Even so, the rate of shootings per 100,000 people living in North Hollywood over the last 12 months is about half the citywide average.

Area residents said they noticed a disturbing spike in violent crime in the area.

"it's shocking because up till now it was like the average level of violence let's say it's, it's like that everywhere. But right now this this really seemed like people are targeted and it's seeing like executional style. So it is it is very disconcerting actually to to be to walk around here every day," said Jolanta Needell.