Two people were injured in Tuesday’s shooting, but the reason for the confrontation on South Figueroa Street remains unknown. The suspect was still at large as investigators worked to establish what led to the gunfire.
Police responded around 3 p.m. Tuesday to the 800 block of South Figueroa Street after reports of shots fired, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police say the suspect got out of a vehicle and fired at another man, who drew his own gun and returned fire. The suspect continued shooting as the other man ran from the scene.
A bystander was struck by gunfire while inside his vehicle. One of the two injured people was taken to a hospital in critical condition; the other person’s injuries were not clear, according to MyNewsLA.com. The motive remains under investigation.
A Familiar Stretch of Figueroa Street
Earlier incidents provide some context for the corridor, though they are separate cases. The Los Angeles Times reported that authorities linked Jabril Metoyer to a late-December 2024 shooting near 7th and Figueroa streets after a victim refused to give him money; authorities did not clarify whether it was an attempted robbery or panhandling. Three days later, Metoyer fired inside a downtown Target after a confrontation with a loss prevention officer and an armed guard. The guard returned fire, and at least 10 rounds were exchanged.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Metoyer was arrested on New Year’s Eve after an hours-long standoff at a residential building on West Ingraham Street, where a handgun was recovered, according to then-Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. Metoyer was later charged with multiple counts of attempted murder and robbery and pleaded not guilty at a downtown courtroom hearing.
Limits of local crime data
Available public data does not establish how common shootings are in LAPD’s Central Area, which includes much of Downtown LA, compared with the area’s broader violent-crime pattern. Crosstown, republished by Calo News, reported that incomplete public LAPD crime data during the department’s records-system transition limited neighborhood-specific crime tracking—a caveat when using broader crime figures to describe this block.
Investigation Continues
No arrests have been reported in Tuesday's shooting, and the motive behind the confrontation on South Figueroa Street has not been disclosed, as noted by ABC7 Los Angeles. Police continue searching for the suspect as the investigation unfolds.
