Multiple sources report that two Hispanic men were shot while riding their bikes in Koreatown Saturday afternoon.
According to the L.A. Times, incident began near the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and San Marino Street around 1:20 pm, when a bike rider was struck by a white SUV. One of the men inside the SUV then got out and shot the victim as he lay on the ground, killing him.
Witnesses report that the SUV appeared to be chasing at least one one of the riders when some sort of altercation occurred leading up to the collision and shooting.
Following the first shooting, the men in the SUV began pursuing the second rider; it’s unclear whether he was riding with the first victim or just happened to be riding alone in the same area. He was shot by the same man in the 800 block of south Vermont Avenue; fortunately, his wounds are not life threatening.
The suspects are described only as three Hispanic men in a white SUV-like vehicle. They were last seen driving south on Vermont Avenue towards Olympic Boulevard.
Police continue to investigate the motive for the shooting.
While gang violence seems like the obvious explanation, as the Times points out, it could also be the result of road rage or a personal vendetta.
Thanks to Sam Ebnet for the heads-up.
Update: KABC-7 identifies the victim as a 19-year old Los Angeles resident; while they give a name on the video report, but I’m unable to clearly make it out after several listenings. Police report two men exited the vehicle; witnesses report hearing approximately 15 gunshots.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Mark Morgan at 213/38-9470 or 877/527-3247.
Update 2: LAist identifies the victim as Shaoyan Almazan. The Times reports Almazan appears to have been targeted by his killers.
Update 3: According to the L.A. Times, the second victim was riding with Almazan, and was struck in the hand as he tried to ride away. He stopped to in the 800 block of Vermont to call 911, which is why he was found a few blocks away. The shooter is described as medium height and weight, wearing a hooded sweat shirt. In other words, it could be just about anyone.
Still no word on why the riders were targeted.
Update 4: According to the LAPD, the shooting was definitely gang related. That doesn’t make it any better, but it means local cyclists don’t have to worry about a crazed road raging driver roaming the streets.
Just a cold-blooded killer.
I doubt that this had anything to do with their status as bicyclists.
It seems more likely that this was about something else.
As I suspected, it’s not a road rage case.
On the other hand a driver brake checked me today, got out and acted like he was going to beat me up until I pulled out my pepper spray. He then threatened to pull a gun out of his pickup and shoot me but thought better of it as the cars were backing up behind us. All of this because he couldn’t handle changing lanes on a road with two lanes in each direction and a narrow right lane next to parallel parked cars.
[…] It’s Not a Hit and Run When Driver Gets Out and Shoots You (Biking In L.A.) […]