3 dead after mass shooting

DOWNEY - Three people were killed and two others wounded after two separate but connected shootings in Downey on Wednesday. Police were questioning up to four suspects late Thursday afternoon but no further information was immediately available.

Police responded to U.S. Fire Protection on the 8700 block of Cleta Street at 11:12 a.m. after receiving a report of gunshots. Five minutes later, they received a second 911 call reporting more gunshots at a house one block down the street.

"It's believed that the family members own both the business and the residence," said Lt. Dean Milligan of the Downey Police Department.

In all, three people were killed. Their names were not released, but they are believed to be related. The victims include a man in his 20s and two females in their 30s.

Sources told this newspaper that a woman was kidnapped at U.S. Fire Protection and driven to her home, where she was killed in front of her child. The child was shot in the arm.

Downey police said the shooting "does not appear to be random." Councilman Mario Guerra, a chaplain for the Downey Police Department, wrote on his Facebook page that the killings were "targeted."

Two children who survived the shootings were taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.

In a statement, Mayor Roger Brossmer said he was "saddened" by the shooting. He stressed that "the investigation is still underway, and many details are not yet clear."

Brossmer also activated the city's emergency notification system to alert residents of the shootings. He implored residents to avoid the area as police continue their investigation.

The site of the shootings is near the Coca-Cola bottling plant. Downey Regional Medical Center along with local schools were put on lockdown Wednesday as news of the shootings broke.

The suspect is believed to be driving a black 2010 Chevy Camaro, license plate 6LEA010. The car has no front license plate and belongs to one of the victims, police said.

Anyone who sees the suspect should call 911. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the case to call Sgt. Dwayne Cooper at (562) 904-2340.

********** Published: October 25, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 28