18-Year-Old Man Killed, Brother Hurt During Car-To-Car Shooting In South LA
SOUTH LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — An 18-year-old man was killed and his 16-year-old brother injured in a car-to-car shooting Wednesday evening in South Los Angeles.
Ten gunshots were heard about 4:50 p.m., according to the LAPD.
Officers reported to the intersection of Denker Avenue and 68th Street, where they found a vehicle had sheared off a fire hydrant, shooting water into the air.
"I heard, I think five or four gunshots and a big boom," a young boy who lives near the crash site told CBS2/KCAL9's Erica Nochlin.
The boy's father, Derrick Grady, said, "They were trying to help the guy get out of the car with all this water coming down. They finally got him out and laid him to the side, but he wasn't moving at all."
The vehicle's front-seat passenger, 18-year-old Keion Coleman, was fatally shot. The South L.A. resident was riding with his two younger brothers. His 16-year-old brother was also shot and taken to a hospital in critical condition. His preteen brother in the backseat wasn't hurt.
Neighbors say the scene was chaotic — a geyser of water rushed from the hydrant as people tried to help get the victims out of the car.
Firefighters later managed to plug the spewing water.
Investigators suspect the collision was triggered by a car-to-car shooting.
"Based on the actions and what occurred, my hunch is that it's gang-related," LAPD Det. Chris Barling said.
He added there's no evidence to suggest Coleman or his brothers belong to a gang.
Police are searching for the suspect's car, a light-colored SUV, with a man and a woman spotted inside.
Anyone with information was asked to call the LAPD.
