Deadly shooting investigation underway after driver pulled from burning car in Bell

BELL, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities were investigating a deadly shooting and fiery car crash in Bell early Wednesday morning.

The incident was reported just before 2 a.m. near the intersection of Florence and Vinevale avenues, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Residents in the area say they heard gunshots around that time.

"I was woken up by some shooting sounds and I just didn't think much of it - we're in L.A., you know...," said Bell resident Haziel Islas. "Then I went on Citizen, I got a notification saying there was an accident. I just didn't put one and one together until I saw the accident on the way to work."

Officers responded to the area after they heard the crash. When they arrived, they encountered a car fully engulfed in flames.

The male driver, possibly in his 30s, was pulled from the car but died at the scene. Authorities then noticed gunshot holes in the vehicle and what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the victim.

Detectives say the driver was heading east on Florence, made a U-Turn and headed westbound when he crashed into a pole at a high rate of speed.

AIR7 HD was over the scene where there was a mangled car that appeared to be charred and debris from the crash. Several evidence markers were also scattered across the street.

It's unclear if the man died in the crash or if they had been fatally shot before, or where the shooting occurred. No arrests have been made.

"It just doesn't make sense. I mean, unless they shot at him while he was driving. That's the only thing I can imagine," Islas added.