3 Killed, 5 Hurt in Spate of Shootings

Three people were shot to death in gang-related incidents and five others were wounded in other shootings in and near Los Angeles, police said Tuesday.

A 20-year-old man died Tuesday afternoon in a car-to-car attack in Compton, officials said.

The victim, whose identity was not released, was one of four people in a red Isuzu driving slowly through the intersection of Compton Boulevard and Kemp Avenue when someone in another car pulled up beside them and opened fire, police said. Witnesses said an occupant of the Isuzu flashed gang signs at the other car before the shooting erupted.

Detectives said the three others in the Isuzu were not injured. The other car was recovered, but the suspect remained at large, detectives said.

Alex Garay, 15, was shot in the head about 10:35 p.m. Monday as he stood outside a residence in the 2700 block of Boulder Street in Boyle Heights, police said.

He was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead about 45 minutes after being shot.

Investigators said Garay’s assailants used a small-caliber handgun.

Officers said they received numerous reports of shots fired, but no one has provided police with a good description of two suspects being sought.

In the third fatal shooting, Ismael Castillo, 19, was slain Monday as he stood on the sidewalk in the 2700 block of West 3rd Street near Rampart Street.

Witnesses reported hearing several shots about 9:05 p.m. and seeing Castillo fall, police said. Two men with shaved heads were seen jumping into a waiting car being driven by a third man, police said.

Castillo was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

About 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, four people, including a 7-year-old boy, were wounded in a drive-by attack in front of 231 W. 112th St.

The boy and a 19-year-old man were reported in critical condition. A 29-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were less seriously injured, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

Police said they were looking for three men who were in a white sedan when the shooting began. The car was found at 88th Street and Grand Avenue, but the suspects remained at large.

In another shooting, a man whose identity has not been released was wounded in the abdomen as he stood in the 700 block of Bonnie Brae Street about 11:30 p.m., police said. He was listed in stable condition Tuesday at County-USC.

Investigators said they have not determined if any of the shootings are related.