From Friday to Sunday, there were 14 gang-related shootings in the 77th Division, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Three of them were homicides.
The incidents come as the area, as well as the entire city, has seen a drop in violent crime. In the 77th Division, which covers 12.2-square-miles in South Los Angeles, there are 30 known gangs and 6,000 documented gang members.
Officials say none of the shootings are related, meaning there was no gang retaliation. But the sudden spike in violence has officers concerned.
"When it's gang-related, whether it's one or 14, we're always concerned. We have a very strong gang unit here that works aggressively and diligently and always working on the intelligence. And that's what we rely on, is our intelligence," said Cpl. Robert Arcos with the LAPD.
The LAPD has received some help from the public, but they say they need a lot more. Anyone with information about the recent crimes was asked to call police at (877) LAPD-24-7.
