Mar Vista residents demand action after shooting at homeless encampment
MAR VISTA, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A shooting at a homeless encampment in Mar Vista was caught on camera, and now fed up neighbors are demanding action to make their streets safe.
In the video, a silver Honda Accord pulled up to a homeless encampment around 3 p.m. and the driver got out to look for someone near one of the tents. He then pulled out a gun and fired multiple rounds, hitting a man with help from his passenger.
Los Angeles police said they got away and are now wanted for attempted murder.
"Anybody could be walking by or driving by and get caught in the crossfire. It's frightening," Nanette Pastor-Hanna said.
Nanette and Elliot Hanna live near the 405 Freeway and Venice Boulevard, where last Thursday's shooting happened. They said the homeless encampment is impacting their quality of life.
"I have great sympathy for the plague of the homeless, but this we can't have. We can't have shootings, we can't have crime, we can't have illegal activity. The city has tolerated it," Elliot said.
Esther Garcia has cut hair at the salon next to the encampment for 21 years. She said drugs are a huge problem for the people who live and hangout under the freeway. She often sees needles on the sidewalk.
"The city has to do something, really, because it's very bad for all the community here. It doesn't look good and our customers pretty much, they tell us when they come they don't know where to park their car because they're afraid," she said.
Los Angeles police and Councilman Mike Bonin said they aren't sure whether the victim in the shooting lives at the encampment in Bonin's district or is even homeless. Since February, the city has engaged in outreach at the encampment more than 30 times.
The Hannas said the LAPD and City Council aren't doing enough. Other people who live and work in the area said the outreach hasn't eliminated the encampment and it continues to be a haven for drugs and violence.
"We called, for example, the offices of Mike Bonin several times, but all we're getting is a meeting, which I don't understand. What is it that he wants us to tell him that he doesn't see outside?" George Frem said.
Bonin released a statement regarding the encampment to Eyewitness News.
"No one should live in fear-whether it's neighbors who live in a home or people forced to live on the street. I'll continue to fight for more LAPD patrol resources for the area, so everyone can stay safe from criminal activity. And I'll continue to fight for solutions to homelessness, like bridge housing, so that no one has to live on the street."
