A man was shot to death and another man was wounded when the two attempted to foil the attempt of men trying to steal their parked vehicle in an alley in the South Los Angeles area, authorities said Sunday.
The shooting was reported at 9:20 p.m. Saturday in the 8000 block of South Hooper Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The victims were alerted to an alarm sound from their vehicle, which was parked in an alley, and saw three suspects attempting to steal it.
“When they confronted the suspects, a fourth suspect, standing near the south entrance of the alley, produced a firearm and opened fire on the victims,” according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
One of the victims, armed with a handgun, returned fire in what appeared to be self-defense, sheriff’s officials said. A 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim was struck in the leg and taken to a hospital.
The suspects fled the scene in a newer-model, red or burgundy four-door coupe headed westbound on 81st Street.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting was asked call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Callers who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go to lacrimestoppers.org.