Freeway Shootings Spur More Patrols

California Highway Patrol officers on Wednesday stepped up patrols along a stretch of the Harbor Freeway through South Los Angeles after two motorists in two weeks were fatally shot in midday attacks.

The sprays of bullets on one of Southern California’s most-traveled stretches of roadway occurred four miles apart and during roughly the same time: afternoon rush hour.

The first victim was a 20-year-old Long Beach college student, who was shot in the head by someone in a passing car near the Manchester Avenue offramp. Then on Wednesday, two men in their 40s on their way to a Bible study class at a South Los Angeles church were fired upon on the northbound freeway near Redondo Beach Boulevard about 2:10 p.m.

Driver James Wiggins died from his wounds, and his passenger, Willie Burks, was hurt in the ensuing crash into a sound wall.

Detectives said car-to-car freeway shootings are always among the hardest to solve because the assailants can speed away, evidence collection on the freeway is difficult and there rarely are witnesses. All three factors are true in these cases.

After the college student, Michael Livingston, was shot March 29 on the northbound freeway, more than 2,000 people contacted the LAPD’s 77th Division detectives with tips. But the information has yielded few clues except for a possible description of the gunman’s vehicle: a dark gray Lincoln Town Car with tinted windows.

Detectives have even fewer clues in the most recent shooting. Burks told police that he and Wiggins had no altercation with anyone on the freeway and that the first time he became aware of trouble was when the bullets shattered the driver’s side window.

The shootings have shaken motorists who drive on the Harbor Freeway. The highway runs through some of Los Angeles’ toughest neighborhoods as it connects downtown Los Angeles with the South Bay and San Pedro.

“Every time I am on the freeway and see the Highway Patrol, I am at ease,” said Tiffany Harris, 24, of South Los Angeles. “But I do find myself speeding to El Segundo.”

South Los Angeles resident Darrell Thomas, 34, said he knows what it is like to see a gun-toting motorist. He said he recently exited the freeway at Century Boulevard. A motorist, apparently upset because he didn’t expect Thomas to exit, began tailgating him. Alarmed, Thomas pulled over.

“The guy pulled up his shirt and had a gun” before speeding off, he said. “It kind of convinces me to watch out and not drive too crazy because there is a lot of road rage out there.”

Police Chief William J. Bratton urged motorists not to become overly alarmed by the shootings.

“Go about your business, and drive as safely as you can,” he said at a news conference.

Bratton said the evidence recovered so far shows that different guns were used in the two shootings. Based on that, detectives are working on the assumption that the two cases are not connected.

But in both instances, authorities don’t know of a motive.

“These cases are particularly tough because they are not in a neighborhood, the witnesses are passing by, and they are often concentrating on their driving and ignoring the surroundings,” said Det. Sal LaBarbera, who is leading the investigation.

More than a year ago, Garen Ketikyan, a 20-year-old Valley College student, was shot to death on the Hollywood Freeway by a passing motorist.

Ketikyan was driving a black Mercury Grand Marquis when a white Mustang with chrome wheels and Xenon headlights pulled up next to him. The passenger said something to Ketikyan before opening fire.

LAPD officials produced a sketch of the assailant but still have no idea who he is.

“We are still searching for the killer,” LAPD Det. Mike Coffey said.

At the Unocal 76 station off the freeway on Manchester Avenue, people expressed shock at what happened. But some were not surprised.

Jose Luis Avalos, of Silver Lake, takes the freeway to his job as manager of the station.

“That can happen on the freeway, or it can happen here,” he said, pointing to a bullet hole at the gas station. “The only thing is you have to be alert.”