Special Needs College Student Shot Dead in South L.A. Park

The Los Angeles Police Department are looking for the suspected gang member(s) who fatally shot a special needs college student at a local park Tuesday afternoon.

19-year-old Patrick Caruthers was sitting on a park bench at the Jackie Tatutm/Harvard Recreation Center in South L.A. at about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday when he was approached by an unknown suspect who shot him several times in the torso, according to the LAPD.

The suspect fled the scene in a dark-colored compact vehicle that sat waiting on West 62nd Street, then headed southbound on Denker Avenue.

Caruthers, who had a learning disability, had no criminal history and was not involved in a gang, according to Detective Stacey Szymkowiak of the LAPD Gang Homicide unit, reports City News Service.

The young man was a student at L.A. Trade Tech and volunteered at the park in the anti-gang Summer Night Lights program, reports L.A. Now.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The LAPD say they have no suspect description, but say the shooter is "likely" a gang member. They are asking that anyone with information on the shooting contact the LAPD immediately.