A fatal shooting on Christmas Day in Los Angeles left one teenage boy dead and four other people wounded during a violent confrontation in a residential neighbourhood.
Authorities said the incident occurred just after 1:00 p.m. on Angela Court, near Challenger Way and Avenue K in the community of Lancaster. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, responding to reports of gunfire, arrived to find multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Officials later confirmed that a 16-year-old boy died at the scene despite efforts by first responders to save him. Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel pronounced the teen dead shortly after their arrival. Four other individuals were injured in the shooting and taken to the hospital for treatment.
The wounded victims were identified as a 17-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy, and two men aged 19 and 29. Authorities said all four sustained gunshot injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Their names were not released.
Investigators said the circumstances leading up to the shooting were still unclear. Deputies canvassed the area for surveillance footage and witnesses as part of an active investigation. Reports say that up to Thursday, no suspect had been identified and no arrests had been made.
Following the incident, a video recorded by an onlooker was released online, showing the moments leading up to the shooting. Based on the footage, an altercation erupted in the street between several people. Amid the crowd, multiple people appeared to be armed. At least one woman was also observed carrying a firearm.
When armed individuals make aggressive movements towards others, a few bystanders attempt to de-escalate the situation by stepping between them and urging calm. Some appeared to place their hands on concealed weapons, while others openly pointed firearms.
Toward the end of the footage, panic ignited when multiple gunshots could be heard. People were seen running from the scene, while others dropped to the ground or sought cover as the shooting unfolded.
The sheriff’s department said the suspect or suspects remained at large and encouraged anyone with information to contact law enforcement.
