A person is dead and three others injured in a shooting at a shopping center in West Hills in the western San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, on Saturday afternoon.
Police responded to the shooting around 3:45 p.m. at the parking lot outside Trader Joe’s at Fallbrook Center, according to multiple reports. The shopping center also contains other stores including Target and Walmart.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said a 45-year-old man died at the scene. The other three people who were shot are all in a serious or critical condition. They are a 35-year-old woman, a 35-year-old man, and a 45-year-old man.
Police said that initial findings indicate the shooting was in relation to a drug trade gone wrong.
“Our preliminary investigation has revealed that the dispute centered around a narcotics transaction in the area. During that dispute, multiple suspects produced firearms and fired at each other,” LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters at an evening news conference.
“At this time, there is no danger to the West Hills community.”
“We believe that all of the people involved in this dispute have been identified and we believe we have them in custody or we have them where we can provide them medical care,” he added.
The suspected shooter fled the scene in a red car as police officers arrived at the parking lot, but a police helicopter spotted the suspect and managed to detain the suspect after a short pursuit, Hamilton said.
During the pursuit, the suspect got into a “hit-and-run traffic collision” and injured another person, after which he continued to flee, and later swapped vehicles, Hamilton added.
Police recovered two guns at the scene. Officers are trying to figure out if at least one of the people injured was also involved in the shooting.
“We believe everyone that was involved in the dispute here is either in custody or the hospital,” Hamilton said.
