Shooting in Palms alley leaves 1 dead; LAPD is investigating

A person was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon in an alley of a Westside neighborhood, police said.

Los Angeles police received reports of a shooting shortly before 2:30 p.m. in the 3300 block of Mentone Avenue in Palms, said LAPD Officer Tony Im.

Officers found a male with a single gunshot wound in an alley, Im said. He was pronounced dead at the scene by officials with the Los Angeles Fire Department. His name and age were not released.

Witnesses told police that the gunman may have fled the area in a dark Dodge Ram pickup, Im said.

The killing occurred less than two blocks from a park and convenience store where last week a series of shootings left a 27-year-old man dead and four other men injured.

James Pickens, 35, was arrested in connection with last week’s deadly spree and charged Wednesday with one count of murder, according to the Los Angeles district attorney’s office. He pleaded not guilty.

Police have said multiple people may have been involved in last week’s shooting, and the investigation is ongoing.

It’s unclear if Wednesday’s shooting is connected to last week’s incident.

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