A 23-year-old man was fatally injured after exchanging gunfire with an unknown number of suspects Friday in East Los Angeles, and authorities were investigating his death as possibly gang-related.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department units were called just after 9:40 a.m. to the 1400 Block of North Carmelita Avenue on reports of the shooting and found the man sitting unresponsive with gunshot wounds in a car on City Terrace Drive, according to a department statement.
The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name was withheld pending notification of his next of kin.
LASD investigators learned the man was driving and stopped in the area of Carmelita and Mandalay Drive in front of a black sedan also stopped in the street.
“The victim exchanged gunfire with the occupants of the black sedan,” said LASD Deputy David Yoo. “The victim drove away westbound on City Terrace Drive and pulled to the curb, where he became unresponsive.”
No other injuries were reported in the shooting, which is being investigated as gang-related, according to the LASD.
No suspect description was provided.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. Tipsters may also use the website lacrimestoppers.org.