Police Investigating Triple Slaying in Area Frequented by Gangs

Three people were killed and another seriously injured after they were shot by assailants in a San Pedro home early Wednesday, police said.

Officials at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Division said they had little information about the shootings, which occurred around 10:45 a.m. Homicide detectives were still on the scene Wednesday evening, and there were no reports of arrests.

One person was taken to San Pedro Peninsula Hospital and treated for gunshot wounds. But hospital officials refused to release details about the survivor and police said they had not yet identified the victims. By one unconfirmed account, two of the shooting victims were brothers.

“All we know right now is that we have a triple homicide,” Lt. Richard Roupoli said. “We don’t know if it’s gang related, we don’t know who’s involved, who the victims are or anything. That’s what we’re trying to find out.”

Police said the location of the shooting, at 550 W. Santa Cruz St., was in an area frequented by local gangs.

In recent months the harbor area has been rocked by gang violence. Two weeks ago, eight people were injured in drive-by shootings at two locations within minutes of each other. There were 21 gang killings last year in the harbor communities of Wilmington, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway and San Pedro, far above the 14 murders recorded in 1990.