Los Angeles, CA – One woman has died and five others were hospitalized following a shooting at a strip mall in Hawthorne early Sunday morning. The incident was reported to the Hawthorne Police Department just before 12:30 a.m. in the 3100 block of Rosecrans Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
First responders found multiple gunshot victims at the scene, with one woman in critical condition. Tragically, she later succumbed to her injuries. Additional victims may have taken themselves to the hospital for treatment.
LASD Lieutenant Art Spencer mentioned, “When officers arrived, they found a victim suffering from gunshot wounds. They later learned there were also multiple victims who had been transported to various local hospitals that also suffered gunshot wounds.” Authorities confirmed that six people were shot, with one in critical condition and the remaining four in stable condition.
Footage obtained by KTLA showed officers securing nearby Memorial Hospital and inspecting an abandoned car. Evidence markers were spread across the strip mall parking lot, indicating the crime scene.
Witnesses reported hearing nine to ten gunshots, with one individual mistaking the sound for New Year’s Eve fireworks. The location where the shooting occurred is a popular hangout spot for teens and young adults.
Family members anxiously rushed to the scene in search of their loved ones. One woman expressed concern for her cousins who were supposed to be in the parking lot during the incident but were nowhere to be found.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau is leading the investigation and detectives are actively collecting evidence from local businesses. No suspect description has been released, and anyone with information is urged to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau or Crime Stoppers anonymously.