A 35-year-old man who was fatally shot in Bell was identified by county authorities Thursday.
The victim was identified as Oscar Gonzalez, according to the Los Angeles County Department Medical Examiner’s office.
Authorities were sent to the 4700 block of Florence Boulevard, several blocks west of the Long Beach (710) Freeway, at about 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities said the victim was apparently shot while driving a vehicle that crashed and caught fire.
“Officers and detectives from the Bell Police Department responded … to investigate a fatal traffic collision,” a sheriff’s statement said. “During their investigation they observed bullet holes in the victim’s vehicle. They also noticed the victim appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound to his torso.”
Sheriff’s homicide detectives were sent to assist Bell detectives in the investigation.
“Investigators learned the victim was traveling, in his vehicle, westbound on the 4700 block of Florence Avenue, in the city of Bell, when he collided with a pole at Vinevale Avenue,” the sheriff’s statement said. “Officers in the area heard the collision and responded. Observing the vehicle engulfed in fire, the officers removed the victim from the vehicle and began life-saving efforts. Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the scene and pronounced the victim deceased.”
No suspect information was immediately available.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous callers may call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or send tips to lacrimestoppers.org.