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Three people are dead and 12 people are wounded following a gunfight that broke out at a restaurant in West Adams, reports theLos Angeles Times. Witnesses and police describe "a bloody scene with shell casings everywhere" in and around the restaurant located in a converted house in the 2800 block of Rimpau Boulevard, just south of Adams Boulevard near La Brea Avenue.
Shots were first reported at about 12:28 a.m. on Saturday morning. Before the shooting, three people, possibly two men and one woman, reportedly left the restaurant and returned with firearms, according to KTLA. When the three arrived back at the party, they opened fire on others at the location. Other people at the restaurant returned fire, while dozens were caught in the crossfire.
The shooting reportedly continued outside the restaurant, as the shooters followed each other into the building's driveway, and on to the street. Investigators this morning have found shell casings on the ground lined up and down the block where the the bloodshed took place.
When officers first responded, at least 50 people were reportedly running away from the restaurant on Rimpau. The restaurant is an apparently an un-permitted, though very popular, establishment that serves Jamaican food and has a DJ on Friday nights.
"It was a birthday party; I don't know what happened," said Dilly, the owner of the restaurant, to KTLA. "I went to go hide next door by the trashcan. When I came out, I heard plenty of people got shot."
As emergency responders arrived, paramedics transported 12 people to multiple hospitals in the area in various conditions. Three people were declared dead as investigators sifted through the scene. So far, police have found a single semi-automatic pistol at the scene, though detectives have not released any more information as to what may have prompted the shooting.
"This is real tragic. We have a lot of sorting out to do. When the shooting started, everyone scattered," said Deputy Chief Bill Scott, head of the LAPD's South bureau. "Our detectives are getting a better picture of what unfolded."
So far police have two people into custody, a man and a woman, but have not made any formal arrests.
