A gunman is on the run after four people, including a juvenile, were shot in East Los Angeles following Sunday night’s World Cup loss by Mexico against England.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department initially said the victims were shot at three separate locations, but later clarified the injuries stemmed from one incident.
Some sort of verbal argument broke out near Whittier Boulevard and Leonard Avenue around 9:40 p.m. as a large crowd gathered. Investigators say things took a violent turn when the suspect pulled out a handgun and started shooting.
Two men, believed to be the intended victims, and two uninvolved bystanders, only identified as a woman and a juvenile male, were hit by the gunfire.
Those bystanders later called for help after going several blocks down the boulevard, which created some initial confusion for law enforcement.
“Any time Mexico plays, people go out to celebrate on Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “Two individuals may have been shooting at two other individuals after some sort kind of verbal dispute, so we have a total of four victims. From what we’re told at this point, they’re all in stable condition. We are asking the public — there were a lot of folks out there. Anybody that has any information about the shooters — what they look like, what kind of vehicle they were in.”
All four victims were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Details about the suspect, or what else led up to the shooting, were not available.
This is the second incident in less than week. When Mexico played Ecuador on Tuesday, June 30, three Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies were hit by people throwing explosives and sticks.
Whittier Boulevard in East L.A. is the primary hub for victory celebrations — especially the Whittier Boulevard Arch, known as El Arco — because it is the historic and cultural heart of the local Chicano and Latino community.
Some nearby business owners told Eyewitness News they normally anticipate rowdy behavior following a big game, and they close shop early.
Anyone with information about Sunday night’s shooting is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
