Saturday, August 14, 2010

An afternoon shooting near Echo Park Lake left one man injured in what one resident described a “Wild West” scene, police said.  The victim told police he was fired upon by suspects in a car  on Echo Park Avenue, said Sgt. Michael Mabie with the Rampart Division.  Details are still sketchy but the man – who was shot in the leg and was grazed in the back by another bullet – was able to drive himself or have a relative drive him to a nearby hospital, Mabie said.  No suspects were in custody and police were still interviewing residents.  One resident on Twitter reported hearing shots fired at about 1 P.M.:

Major gunshots just fired ’round Echo Park Lake…heard squealing tires right after. EP = OK Corral

One resident who lives on Laguna Avenue east of Echo Park Lake said his family heard shots being fired down the length of the street as at least two vehicles sped down hill, where police were seen examining bullet casings at the corner of Laguna and Echo Park avenues.

“The whole length of Laguna was the Wild West,” said the man, whose sons were outside playing and filling water balloons  “We ran inside and hit the floor.”

“It was a nice sunny Saturday – a lot of people were outside,” he said.

A large amount of gang related tagging was visible near by on Laguna Avenue at Laveta Terrace. But there is no word whether the incident was gang related.

* Update @ 5:34 P.M.: The shooting does appear to be gang related, according to a Rampart Division officer. The shooting victim,  who is believed to be a gang member,  is “not really cooperative,” said the officer, who declined to be identified. Anyone with information about the shooting should call the Rampart Division at (213) 484-3400.

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