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There was an officer-involved shooting down the street from Washington Irving Middle School and near Forest Lawn Memorial Park-Glendale at the intersection of Drew St. and Estara Ave. in Glassell Park. One man died and another was sought by police according to Officer Kate Lopez at the LAPD.
The Southbound 2 San Fernando Rd. off-ramp was shut down due to police activity, according to Officer Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol. Other streets and several neighborhood schools remained locked down for much of the afternoon while authorities searched for two suspects.
UPDATE, 1:43 P.M.: This was a traffic stop turned gun battle with "at least one AK-47 assault rifle" fired, according to LA Times' new blog, L.A. Now. Police continue to search for a suspect.
UPDATE, 3:10 P.M.: SWAT is on the scene. Apparently, the Avenues gang is blamed for a drive-by shooting this morning where a man was shot 15 times while holding a baby. The child was not hurt. [Via KNX1070 on air live]
UPDATE, 3:42 P.M.: The man shot in the drive-by shooting is confirmed dead. [Update, 6:50 P.M., may be unconfirmed report, now confirmed]
UPDATE, 3:48 P.M.: It appears freeway and local street road closures have been lifted.
UPDATE, 4:56 P.M.: Gang shootings in the neighborhood have become more common over the past two years, local residents told LA Times reporters.
Was today the tipping point for the community take back their neighborhood?
UPDATE, 6:09 P.M.: The third suspect was apprehended shortly after 5 p.m. The neighborhood lockdown is over. Locked down schools included Cal Charter School, Aragon Elementary School, Fletcher Elementary School, and Washington-Irving Middle School. A fourth suspect fled the scene in a car and is not believed to be in the area. -- KNX reporter-on-scene
Photo by VeryBadLady via Flickr
