A man was found shot at the scene of a commercial fire in Bellflower early Sunday, and authorities believe the blaze was set on purpose by two masked suspects. The fire was reported shortly before 4:30 a.m. at a commercial building on the 9100 block of Somerset Boulevard, setting off a scramble by firefighters and investigators trying to piece together what happened before flames and gunfire converged at the same location.
Los Angeles County firefighters responded to the structure fire at 9135 Somerset Blvd., according to KTLA. A shooting victim was found at the fire scene, an attribution KTLA credits to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The outlet reports the two suspects were wearing black ski masks and all-black clothing, and were suspected of starting the fire per the Lakewood sheriff's station.
What Investigators Know So Far
Based on preliminary scene information, the suspects were believed to be armed with a handgun. Beyond that detail, much of the incident remains unclear. The victim was taken to the hospital and was last reported in stable condition, and investigators had not clarified what led up to the shooting and fire.
It was unclear whether investigators had identified or located the suspects as of the report. That leaves other central questions in the case — who fired the shot and why the building was set ablaze — unresolved for now. FOX 11 reported that the same suspect allegedly opened fire and started the fire.
By Sunday afternoon, the business had been identified as The Spot Smok Shop, and no arrests had been made. The suspects remained difficult to identify: both wore masks, and authorities had released no detailed descriptions. The shop was a relatively new addition to the neighborhood, according to residents interviewed at the scene; it had opened after the property sat vacant for an extended period. The business’s name, the arrest status and the neighborhood’s account of its history add context to what remains an active investigation.
Fire Crews Remained on Scene Sunday
The Los Angeles County Fire Department remained at the scene Sunday morning, working the aftermath of the blaze as the investigation continued. No further details on the department's activity at the site were available beyond that presence.
The fire investigation also carries a distinct legal question: California’s standard jury instruction says arson requires proof that a person set fire to or burned a structure or property and acted willfully and maliciously. That is a legal standard, not a determination that anyone committed a crime in this case; no arrests had been made. California’s arson jury instruction provides the framework prosecutors would have to meet if charges are filed.
With no suspect descriptions beyond their masked, all-black appearance and no confirmed motive, the case remains open. Anyone with information has not yet been given a specific point of contact in the reporting, and updates are expected as investigators continue working the scene on Somerset Boulevard.
