A pre-dawn shooting outside Auggie's Bar & Grill in South Gate left one man dead early Friday, and police quickly detained a person of interest, authorities said. Officers rushed to the 5800 block of Imperial Highway after calls came in around 3 a.m. and found the victim near the bar's entrance at 5810 Imperial Highway. Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene while detectives started interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence around the storefront.
According to MyNewsLA, the South Gate Police Department watch commander said officers arrived just after 3 a.m., found a male victim outside the club and detained another man nearby. The ages of both men were not immediately available. The outlet reports that Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics declared the victim dead at the scene. As of Friday morning, police had not released the victim's identity or disclosed any possible motive.
Homicide Unit Takes Charge
Per the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau, detectives were called out and will handle the follow-up investigation. That includes formal interviews with witnesses, reviewing any video from the area and processing physical evidence from outside the bar. Investigators are asking anyone with information, surveillance footage or mobile phone video to contact the Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 or reach LA Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Where This Fits Locally
Friday's killing adds to a troubling run of violence along Imperial Highway this year. An earlier fatal shooting in South Gate was reported in January, according to MyNewsLA. Detectives also detained a person of interest in a separate South Gate homicide in April, a case detailed when person of interest detained made headlines, and residents have continued to voice worries about late-night crime along the city's commercial strips.
South Gate police and county homicide detectives say the investigation into the Auggie's shooting is active and ongoing and again urged witnesses to come forward. For non-emergency assistance, residents can call the city's police non-emergency line at (323) 563-5400, and additional tips can be directed to the LASD Homicide Bureau. Officials said more information will be released as it becomes available.
