1 Dead, 4 Wounded in Venice Shooting

One man was killed and four others wounded late Friday night in an apparently gang-related shooting outside a birthday party at the Venice Boys and Girls Club in Venice, authorities said.

Calvin Smith, 19, was shot outside the club at Lincoln Boulevard and Lucille Avenue after a fight broke out about 11:45 p.m. between two gangs, police said. Smith and the other four victims were taken to area hospitals. Smith died early Saturday morning.

None of the shooting victims were guests at the party, said John Dzubak Jr., the Boys and Girls Club’s executive director.

Dzubak said that about 15 young men had been denied entry to the gymnasium where the party was being held. After they were turned away, some in the group began harassing people leaving the party while others circled the block, he said.

Smith was in a group across the street from the club when two men in a red Jeep Cherokee shot at them with a small-caliber handgun, Los Angeles Police Officer Lucy Diaz said.

Information about the other victims was unavailable.

Police said the motive for the shooting appeared to be gang related, and that they were looking for the men in the Jeep, whom they described as 18-20 years old, one with a thin build and the other about 5 feet 4 with a heavy build.

Police ask that anyone with information call detectives at (310) 202-4501.