1 Dead, At Least 4 Hurt; Gunman Goes On Shooting Spree In La Mirada, Whittier Area After Carjacking
WHITTIER (CBSLA.com) — Authorities said a gunman went on a shooting spree in and around Whittier, Pico Rivera and neighboring La Mirada Saturday afternoon.
Officials confirmed to CBS 2/KCAL 9 that there are at least five victims.
The incident reportedly started around 2 p.m. with a carjacking in Pico Rivera. It ended with a shooting in La Mirada at Santa Gertrudes and Alicante Roads.
Authorities have now confirmed one of the shooting victims has died. The victim has been described as an adult male.
The condition of the other four victims was unclear. But officials said all four were taken to area hospitals.
KCAL 9's Cristy Fajardo reported the suspect's green SUV was discovered several hours later in Mayberry Park in Sante Fe Springs.
The gunman and a female companion remained at large. It was unclear through the manhunt if the woman was a willing accomplice or an unwilling carkack victim.
It was unclear if the attack was gang-related but Saturday evening the shootings and victims appeared to be random.
In La Mirada, Fajardo spoke to a witness who said she saw cars with windows shot out and paramedics giving a man CPR in the middle of the street.
The witness said his family looked on helplessly while crying. Another witness told her they heard at least seven gunshots.
In the hours following the carjacking, officials believe the suspect and his female companion went on a shooting spree. Authorities were leaning on the theory later that she was involved.
They are accused of firing a gun in two locations in Whittier and three different locations in Norwalk, La Mirada and the Santa Fe Sprins area.
Unconfirmed reports said the couple shot another person trying to carjack another vehicle near Sante Fe Springs but police haven't confirmed a link to the earlier shootings.
A shooting at about 8 p.m. in Santa Fe Springs was also being investigated as being possibly related to the others. It was at the Budget Inn near the Santa Ana (5) Freeway and Carmenita Road, Deputy Kelvin Moody of the Sheriff's Information Bureau said. Officials said someone with a gunshot wound was transported from this location.
At one point, it was reported there was a standoff there with the suspect and police but he fled the scene.
Police set up a command center at La Mirada High School.
