No arrests in deadly Palms neighborhood shootings, police say

Police are still investigating shootings that left one man dead and four others injured after gunfire erupted Thursday in a Westside neighborhood.

The deceased was identified as 27-year-old Justin Aguilar, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. His city of residence was unknown.

No arrests have been made in the shootings, which briefly prompted a citywide tactical alert, said Officer Rosario Herrera of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Shots rang out about 3 p.m. in the Palms neighborhood near Vinton Avenue and Woodbine Street. When officers arrived, they found two men, one wounded one dead.

About a block away, gunfire erupted in a second shooting and a third man was injured, police said.

Minutes later, a third shooting occurred about a half-mile away outside a 7-Eleven near Overland Avenue and National Boulevard.

Rafael Rocha, who saw the ambush unfold, said a group of men fired from across the shopping center parking lot at two men leaving the convenience store.

The two men returned fire, and bullets tore through an adjacent nail salon and a Verizon store, as well as a parked Honda Civic, sending glass flying, Rocha said. People in the parking lot and nearby stores ducked or ran for cover during the exchange, which was partly captured by a 7-Eleven surveillance camera.

Four people were wounded and taken to hospitals. A man shot outside the 7-Eleven appeared to have been shot in the stomach, Rocha said.

One possible suspect was described by police as a man driving a light-colored SUV. Rocha said the shooters near the 7-Eleven fled in what appeared to be an old Honda Civic.
The shootings briefly prompted LAPD to issue a citywide tactical alert. Palms Middle School and Palms Elementary were briefly locked down as a precaution.

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