Community Corner

Alleged Gang Member Injured in Monte Vista Street Shooting

Man who was shot is now in stable condition.

A Los Angeles Police Department officer confirmed resident reports of a shooting on Ave. 53 on Tuesday evening at around 6:30 p.m. that injured an alleged gang member. 

According to a resident who e-mailed Patch, various neighbors reported that two men were walking on Ave. 53 near Monte Vista Street when they were shot at approximately a dozen times by a heavy gauge firearm a vehicle that was following them.

"One guy ran and kept running, no one knows if he was hit. The other somehow made it onto a resident's property by jumping over a low wall, and hid behind a recycling bin," the resident told Patch. "He had at least one shot and writhed around on the ground as neighbors tried to offer him assistance."

Find out what's happening in Highland Park-Mount Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Officer Martinez from the Los Angeles Police Department's Northeast Division gang unit confirmed that the reports from residents were true.

"Our report says the same thing as [all the residents are saying]," said Martinez, who declined to give his first name.

Find out what's happening in Highland Park-Mount Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Martinez added that the victim, who looked to be in his late 30s, was now in stable condition at an area hospital.

Residents also said that the victim appeared to a current or former member of the Dogtown gang, as he had a tattoo of the gang's name across his stomach.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Martinez said he could not provide a description of the vehicle or the occupants who allegedly fired the shots.

Shooting Occurred Near Notorious Monte Vista Street House

On Wednesday afternoon, a bundle of police tape dangled from a fence near the intersection of Monte Vista Street and Ave. 53.

According the resident who e-mailed Patch, an apartment complex located at the north-west corner of the intersection has long been haven for drug dealers and gang members.

"Locals that have live there bemoaned the constant raids by police, dumpster fires, drug dealing and general mayhem," the resident said.

In March, officers around Ave. 50 and Monte Vista after a man took flight on foot after seeing police vehicles in the area.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Highland Park-Mount Washington