A man was hospitalized after being shot in the head in front of tourists on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Friday night.
Police responded to Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue around 7:37 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
When officers arrived, they found a 37-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his head just footsteps from the famous TCL Chinese Theatre, authorities said.
Two suspects fled the scene – a Hispanic female and a Hispanic male, both in their 20s, police said.
Police said the victim initially witnessed some sort of fight or argument between the suspects when he tried to intervene.
That’s when the male suspect pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the head in front of the Hard Rock Café.
The suspects ran off into the crowds of Hollywood Boulevard before officers arrived. The victim walked over to the entrance of the Capitol One Café where he collapsed.
The victim’s identity has not been released.
Sky5 video showed dozens of patrol cars surrounding the scene in the bustling tourist district.
The manager of a nearby museum tells KTLA his security guard spotted a group of street gamblers outside of his business when at some point, a woman grabbed cash from the group and ran off, just moments before gunfire erupted.
Witnesses said it possibly started with a sidewalk game called “Three Card Monte,“ which is a scam or a trick to swindle unsuspecting people out of their money.
“We saw a situation where we think someone got ripped off by them,” recalled an eyewitness. “She grabbed cash off their table and ran and they chased after her and then it seems like somebody who possibly knew her came up and then shot the person.”
Nearby attractions include the TCL Chinese Theatre, the El Capitan Theatre and the Dolby Theatre just steps away from the scene.
Some street vendors said they’re familiar with the victim as a local man who goes by the nickname, “Scooter. They described Scooter as a kind and friendly person.
“We heard a gunshot. I was standing here with my friends and as soon as the gunshot happened, there were 20 or 30 people who scattered,” said a witness. “They ran, they were screaming and it was a big deal. Then about five minutes later, I saw the guy who got shot. He walked from where the Hard Rock Café is and all the way down there by the Metro Red Line station and he was bleeding from his head. It was horrible.”
The victim was transported to a local hospital where he remains in stable condition.
The two suspects remain at large. anyone with information is asked to call LAPD at 1-877-275-5273.