Crime & Safety
Bullet Grazes Man's Head in Highland Park Shooting
Police said victim is not a gang member.
Police said a man whose head was grazed by a bullet in a Monday afternoon shooting on Echo Street has been released from the hospital with only minor injuries.
According to LAPD Northeast Gang Unit Det. Rick Ortiz, the 20-year-old male was grazed by a bullet that officers believed was fired by a gang members at around 1 p.m. on Monday afternoon near the 4900 block of Echo Street.
"The kid was pretty lucky," said Ortiz.
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According to the police report, the man and another 20-year-old male were sitting on the porch of an apartment building when the two suspects walked by and asked them "where they were from," a question often posed to determine a person's gang affiliation.
The men on the porch responded by saying "nowhere," which prompted the suspects to begin shooting, the police report states.
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The the other man on the porch was not struck by any bullets.
Ortiz said that Detectives believe that the suspects--both males standing about 5 feet 10 inches and between 150-180 pounds in dark clothes--were members of local gangs.
Ortiz said that the alleged victims were not members of any local gangs, which may make solving the case easier, as gang-affiliated victims are often unwilling to cooperate with police investigations.
The investigation is ongoing, those with information about this crime can contact the Northeast LAPD tip line by calling 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).
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