What was supposed to be a carefree World Cup evening in Koreatown turned chaotic on Thursday when gunfire rang out near Seoul International Park, leaving one man injured and drawing a swarm of police to the busy neighborhood.
The shooting happened shortly before 7 p.m. near James M. Wood Boulevard and Normandie Avenue, just steps from crowds gathered for a World Cup watch party. Video from the scene shows a man lying on the ground with a bleeding leg while officers move in and place another person in handcuffs, according to the Los Angeles Times.
World Cup Watch Party Interrupted
The shooting unfolded right next to Seoul International Park, where the Koreatown World Cup Watch Party Festival was underway as a free community event on June 18. The city's Department of Cultural Affairs lists the festival on its calendar and identifies the LA Korean Festival Foundation as the organizer, according to the Department of Cultural Affairs.
Part of a Citywide Soccer Series
The Koreatown watch party is one of several events under the city's Kick It In the Park program, which offers free World Cup screenings and neighborhood gatherings across Los Angeles, per Kick It In the Park. Seoul International Park itself is operated by the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department, which manages the site where the festival took place, according to Los Angeles Recreation and Parks.
Suspect Detained, Questions Linger
Police detained a suspected shooter near the park and began processing the scene while investigators reviewed witness accounts and video evidence. Officers were still on site as the incident remained a developing story, according to the Los Angeles Times.
