One person died and three were left injured in a shooting that took place outside a shopping centre in Los Angeles on Saturday. Police said that the shooting took place during a drug deal where multiple suspects shot each other during an alleged dispute in a parking lot in the Vanowen and Fallbrook area of the West Hills around 3:45 pm, reported news agency Associated Press.
Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said that three victims were hit by gunfire post and they were taken to a hospital for treatment. At least two of them might face charges after their release from medical care, added Hamilton.
Police officials weren't able to identify the deceased immediately however, AFP later quoted Hamilton as saying, “We believe that all of the people involved in this dispute have been identified and we believe we have them either in custody or we have them where we can provide them medical care."
He added that three suspects were in custody as of Saturday evening and investigators believe that the shooting involved gang members.
Police recovered two firearms from the crime scene.
While talking more about the incident, he said that an LAPD helicopter spotted a vehicle with windows shot out leaving the scene and tracked the vehicle. “That suspect became involved in a hit-and-run traffic collision where they injured someone else and continued fleeing the area. They subsequently switched vehicles and the air units saw them switch vehicles and directed ground units to the location where the suspect was fleeing,” AFP quoted him as saying.
A pursuit took place two to three minutes before the vehicle got pulled over. A female driver and a male suspect who fled the crime scene surrendered and were then taken into custody, said Hamilton.
The person who was injured in the hit-and-run accident was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.