South Gate police hope to identify instigator in fight that led to Wednesday shooting death
Detectives have a homicide mystery on their hands in South Gate — and it’s not a whodunit, but a whom-to-blame.
Authorities on Saturday confirmed that Marco Franco, 25, of Maywood, died of a gunshot wound to the chest after a Wednesday afternoon altercation. Franco was the only fatality in the incident.
Police are now trying to determine whether Franco was at fault for the incident that resulted in his death.
South Gate police responded to the 4900 block of Mason Street after a call about a “man armed with a knife,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. They arrived to find two men shot in their upper torsos. Franco died at the scene. The other man, who was unidentified, was taken to a hospital. Information about his condition was not available.
Officers at the scene recorded accounts describing the two men who were shot as the instigators in the fight. The two men, labeled suspects in the police report, had arrived at the location and argued over missing vehicle parts with a third man police call the victim.
That stretch of Mason Street is in an industrial area with a number of businesses that provide automotive services.
A fistfight started, and Franco and the man with him allegedly pulled out knives, the report says.
The victim’s nephew saw what was happening and ran to retrieve a handgun, which he used to shoot both suspects.
The uncle sustained minor, unspecified injuries.
Officers recovered two knives and a handgun. Detectives are investigating the actions of all involved.
Anyone with information can contact the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
Twitter: @howardblume
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