Man Killed, 2 Women Hurt After Gunfire Erupts Outside Hacienda Heights House Party
HACIENDA HEIGHTS (CBSLA) — A man was killed and a woman was wounded in a shooting early Monday outside a house party in Hacienda Heights.
The gunfire in the area of Manzanita and Vallecito drives broke out at about 1:30 a.m. Authorities say because the shootings happened in two locations outside a house party, there are more than 30 witnesses.
A 33-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say two women in their 20s were also hurt -- one hit by the gunfire in the upper torso, the second with a minor injury related to the shooting, but not a gunshot wound. The woman who was shot was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Neighbor Philip Trujillo says he was about to take his sick wife to the hospital when he heard more than 20 shots ring out.
"It was just, it was unbelievable. It scared the hell out of me," he said. "I look across the street when everybody's gone, I can see a guy on the ground, so I go over there. He's hit in the heart."
The shooting happened a short distance away from a home in the 1700 block of Vallecito Drive, where deputies had responded to a loud party earlier Sunday night. Detectives say the victims were believed to be leaving the party when a dark-colored vehicle approached, and someone inside fired several rounds.
Neighbors say the home where the party was held is being rented out as a short-term rental and has hosted several loud parties in recent weeks.
"It's every weekend," Trujillo said. "You can hear them, one or two o'clock in the morning."
This is the second shooting to erupt out of a house party in as many days in the unincorporated community. On Saturday night, three teenagers were injured in a shooting outside a part in the 16000 block of Garo Street. One 15-year-old boy was shot in the torso and critically injured, while a 15-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy were wounded.
Investigators say it's not clear if there's a relationship between the shootings, beyond the fact they both happened outside house parties right after a fight or argument broke out.
Neighbor Freddy Sanguino said Hacienda Heights is usually very quiet -- but not lately.
"We've been here 13 years and it's been quiet. Hacienda Heights, you never hear of anything here, but lately, there's been a lot of shootings going on," Sanguino said.
The shooters were described only as possibly two to three males in a dark sedan. It's not clear if the shots were fired from the car.