At least one person was killed and another was rushed to the hospital after a shooting at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles Tuesday night as police are searching for the suspect, authorities confirmed to KTLA.
Calls about the shooting at 800 West Olympic Boulevard, a popular tourist destination near the Peacock Theater and across from Crypto.com Arena, came in at around 6:15 p.m., officials with the Los Angeles Police Department said.
Video of the incident obtained by KTLA showed police and firefighters arriving on the scene and going into Fixins Soul Kitchen within the sprawling entertainment complex.
“It is a concern at any place, not just at L.A. Live or anywhere in the city of Los Angeles, but yes, this is a tourist location. It is hundreds, if not thousands of people a day,” LAPD Commander Lillian Carranza said.
Authorities said that the shooting suspect, described only as a Black male wearing black Adidas shoes who fled the scene in a white Honda, possibly an SUV, walked into the restaurant and shot another man who was sitting down and eating.
The victim, believed to be in his 20s, was rushed to the hospital where he died.
A woman at the restaurant who was sitting nearby was grazed by gunfire. She was also taken to the hospital where she was listed in stable condition.
“There are several witnesses, as you can imagine,” Carranza said. “It’s a restaurant, early dinner hours, so we’ll say at least a dozen.”
Police think the victim and the gunman are locals and knew each other, and while the suspect is still on the loose, authorities do not believe there is any danger to the public.
“Of course, individuals like this who shoot somebody in a crowded restaurant are a danger to society,” Carranza added.
According to the owner of the soul food restaurant, no employees were injured during the deadly shooting.
LAPD was encouraging people to avoid the area of Olympic Boulevard and 11th Street, which will be closed for the investigation for at least the next few hours.