The shooting happened near the intersection of North Broadway and Workman Street around 9 p.m. Sunday, where the carnival was being held, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police say the suspect approached them and fired multiple shots before fleeing the scene on foot.
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The victims were only identified as two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17. Their names were not immediately released. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Friends of the victims dropped off candles Monday morning at a growing memorial on the sidewalk nearby. They did not wish to go on camera but told Eyewitness News that the 17-year-old victim was a muralist who liked to show off his talents in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood.
Merilyn Itcep, who attended the carnival, said she heard the gunshots ring out.
"There was a few gunshots...It first started off, like they were fighting by the gas station," she described.
Angel, a fellow carnival attendee, also mentioned a fight earlier in the night prior to the shooting.
"You could already tell the atmosphere was very heavy. There's a lot of violence going on, there was a fight earlier," he said, adding that he recalled hearing at least five shots.
An area shop owner told Eyewitness News off camera that as soon as she heard the shots, she started rushing people into her store to get them out of harm's way.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she described what she heard and saw - she said one of the teens died near her shop.
Additional details about what led up to the shooting were not available.
The carnival was organized by the neighborhood Boys & Girls Club. This was the sixth year for the weekend family festival. The street was packed with families enjoying the rides, games and food. Then the shooting happened.
"I think it's a real setback for the community because people really enjoyed having a way to bring their families out, their children, have something fun, special without worrying about this kind of thing happening," said Carlyn Oropez with the Boys & Girls Club. Oropez said it's unclear if next year's festival will go on as planned.
No arrests have been made and a description of the suspect was not given.
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