Panorama City: Los Angeles Police Mission Area detectives are asking for the public’s help in solving a late-night fatal shooting of a 24-year-old man at a food truck near Rayen Street and Sepulveda Boulevard, last night, January 22, 2015. A 16-year-old associate of the victim was also injured.
According to witnesses, three gang members approached two rivals who were eating at the food truck around 9:50 PM. Two Hispanic men confronted the 16 year old then began to beat him, while a third Hispanic man led the 24-year-old victim a few yards away from witnesses and shot him several times.
The victim died at the scene, while the 16-year-old associate received a single graze wound to the leg, possibly from a ricocheting round fired at the other victim.
Police will be stepping up patrols over the next several days in the area to reduce the threat of retaliatory actions between the gangs. City gang interventionists were notified and will be looking for ways to mitigate the potential for more violence as well.
Anyone with information is urged to call Det. Ryan Verna, Mission Homicide Unit, at (818) 838-9976. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.