2 men die in back-to-back drive-by shootings

Two people were killed over the weekend in what police are calling “connected and gang-related” drive-by shootings near Boyle Heights.

A 20-year-old man was outside his car, about to open his garage in the 500 block of South Saint Louis Street just before midnight Saturday, when a black Cadillac drove by and someone inside the car fired shots at the man, said Los Angeles Police Officer Karen Smith.

Almost immediately afterward, a white car drove by and someone inside the car apparently shot a companion of the 20-year-old, Smith said.

That man was struck in the head and pronounced dead at the scene.

The first victim, who was hit in the chest, was taken to a hospital, where he died, police said.

Two other people were shot about a mile east of Exposition Park on Sunday, but both appeared to have survived their wounds, police said.

The two men were standing at the intersection of East 38th Street and Griffith Avenue on Sunday about 1:45 p.m. when a car drove up and two people inside asked the men on the corner where they were from, police said.

The men responded by saying “we’re not from anywhere,” police said. The men in the car begin firing, hitting the two men in the legs.

Smith said the two victims said they were not gang members. They were taken to the hospital in stable condition.

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ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com