Updated Thursday, April 16 – 6:36 p.m.
One person was killed and four others were wounded today as gunfire erupted in the Palms section of Los Angeles, prompting two schools to go on lockdown and police to go on tactical alert.
The gunfire was first reported at 3 p.m. in the 3300 block of Motor Avenue, Officer Sara Faden of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section said. Witnesses said the first shots were fired at Woodbine Park, at the intersection of Woodbine Street and Vinton Avenue.
One of the victims was killed, Faden said, and images showed a covered body in the street at the intersection of Woodbine and Vinton.
Shots were also fired outside a 7-Eleven store in a small shopping center at the intersection of National and Overland boulevards, police said.
In addition to the deceased victim, four others were wounded and were at hospitals, Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz told reporters at the scene.
One of them was found at the intersection of Clarington Avenue and Regent Street, according to a broadcast report.
At least one of the wounded victims was in critical condition, LAPD Lt. John Jenal said.
Palms Middle School at 10860 Woodbine St. and Palms Elementary School at 3520 Motor Ave. were placed on precautionary temporary lockdown due to the shooting, according to Los Angeles school police.
Police went on tactical alert about 3:30 p.m. to allow for deployment of resources as needed, Faden said.
Officers established a perimeter as they searched for two male suspects, according to the LAPD.
