Man killed, woman hospitalized in Venice car-to-car shooting, rollover crash, LAPD says
VENICE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man was killed and a woman was hospitalized early Monday morning after a shooter opened fire on their vehicle, which then crashed on a residential street in Venice, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The shooting occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of Sixth and Brooks avenues, an LAPD spokesperson said.
According to investigators, the suspect pulled up to the victims' vehicle, opened fire and then drove off. Both victims, identified only as being in their 20s, were struck by gunfire.
The victim driver was able to operate their vehicle for a few blocks before it overturned in a crash near Lincoln Boulevard and Rose Court, police said. A nearby surveillance camera recorded video of the collision, which left the wrecked car in the front yard of a home.
The man in that vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The injured woman was transported to a hospital, where she was listed in stable condition.
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Family members of the victim were seen in tears at the scene of the crash. A family member told Eyewitness News off-camera she has no idea why anyone would drive up and open fire on her loved one.
Venice resident John Vincent says despite the shooting happening steps from his home, he didn't hear anything other than fireworks during the early hours of morning.
"It's hard to tell if it's somebody shooting or if it's some sky rockets. There were a lot of sky rockets going off here," he said.
Vincent has lived in Venice for years and remembers when violent crime seemed to be a nightly occurrence. The deadly shooting left him startled and hoping the violence near his home isn't an indicator of an uptick in violent crime throughout L.A.
According to the LAPD, shootings in the city increased 73% during the first four months of the year. The department's data shows 445 people have been shot so far this year, compared to 257 people this time last year.
Whether road rage was a factor in Monday's incident was under investigation.
A description of the shooter, who remained at large, was not available. Police described the vehicle being sought as a white four-door sedan that was last seen heading eastbound on Rose Avenue.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call LAPD West Bureau Homicide investigators at (213) 382-9470. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800-222-8477).
