A late-night burst of gunfire near downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row left a man dead Friday, and the shooter is still on the run, authorities said.
The violence broke out just after 11 p.m. near the intersection of San Pedro and 5th Streets, where officers responding to reports of shots fired found a man believed to be between 55 and 60 years old suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died of his injuries. Police say the gunman fled before officers arrived and has not been located.
Police: suspect fled the scene
Officers were dispatched to the intersection on a report of a shooting and discovered the victim down on the street, according to NBC Los Angeles. The man’s name has not yet been released, pending notification of his family.
Investigators say they do not have a detailed description of the shooter, and no arrests have been announced. Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department are continuing to work the case and review evidence as they try to piece together what led up to the gunfire.
Where it happened
The deadly shooting unfolded at the edge of Skid Row, a dense downtown corridor long associated with homelessness, encampments, and public-safety struggles. An analysis by LAist and The LA Local found that Skid Row’s murder rate is far higher than the citywide average, underscoring how stubbornly violence has held on in the neighborhood.
Local leaders and advocates have spent years wrestling with how to balance law enforcement with housing, treatment, and outreach services in and around Skid Row, as efforts to make the area safer continue to collide with the reality of life on the street.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about Friday night’s shooting is urged to contact the LAPD non-emergency line at 1-877-ASK-LAPD, according to the department’s website. The Central Area detective desk, which covers much of downtown, is based out of the Central Community Police Station, reachable through the contact information listed on the LAPD site. For emergencies, people should call 911.
Recent pattern
The killing adds to a troubling run of violence around Skid Row this year. In late April, three people were wounded in a shooting at Sixth and San Julian streets, as reported by CBS Los Angeles. Local reporting and police data have highlighted a cluster of shootings and homicides in downtown encampment corridors in recent months.
Investigators have not said whether Friday’s killing is connected to any of those other cases, leaving residents and workers in the area to live with yet another unanswered question about safety on Skid Row’s doorstep.
