A man was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot multiple times in the Central-Alameda neighborhood of South Los Angeles early Wednesday.

The man was shot in his upper body just after midnight near the intersection of East 52nd Street and Compton Avenue, Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Raul Jovel said.

The 19 year-old victim was approached as he was walking on the street by the suspect, and exchanged words with him before he was shot, Jovel said.

The victim told officers at the scene he was not a gang member, Jovel said. It was not clear if the shooting was related to a spate of violence this past weekend that raised fears of increased gang violence.

—City News Service

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