Crime & Safety
Police Seeking Suspect in Friday Night Shooting
Police say the shooting was witnessed by as many as eight people.
A 23-year-old Highland Park man is resting in stable condition on Monday morning at the University of Southern California Medical Center after being shot in the stomach and groin outside of his apartment building on Friday evening.
According to LAPD Northeast Gang Unit Detective Rick Ortiz, the shooting occurred at 7:10 p.m. in front of an apartment building near the corner of Avenue 51 and North Figueroa Street.
Police are still looking for the shooter, who was described by witnesses as a Hispanic male between the age of 18-22, standing between 5'6" and 5'8" and weighing about 150 pounds.
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Ortiz said the alleged shooter opened fire on the victim as he was walking out of his apartment building. Ortiz added that the shooting took place in front of as many as eight witnesses.
"That's definitely unusual," Ortiz said.
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Detectives believe the shooting to be gang related, but were waiting to conduct a followup interview with the victim to confirm that suspicion, Ortiz said.
The next step in the investigation for officers is to compile a photo lineup known as a six-pack to present to witnesses, in hopes of getting an accurate identification of the shooter.
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