The four people killed at a San Fernando Valley restaurant were "targeted," Los Angeles Police Department officials said.
All of the victims were men, said Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese,
commanding officer of operations at the Valley bureau. He said three of
the men were pronounced dead at the restaurant, another later died at a
local hospital. Two others were also wounded and are expected to
survive.
"We don’t have a crazed gunman running around North Hollywood that
presents an immediate threat to public safety, to anyone in their homes
or businesses in the area," Albanese said. "However, this is also not a
random act of violence, this was an intentional act."
The Hot Spot Cafe, a Mediterranean restaurant on Riverside Drive, was
packed with customers when a man walked in and opened fire around 4:40
p.m., according to police officials.
Investigators
were also trying to determine the exact number of shooters and whether
the gunman walked into the restaurant or was inside the
restaurant shortly before the gunfire broke out. They snapped photographs outside the restaurant, including the sidewalk and parked cars, as well as inside. Riverside Drive was closed off
between Colfax and Irvine avenues.
"This is a peaceful community that
doesn’t usually have to experience this kind of a shocking crime," said
Councilman Paul Krekorian, whose district includes North Hollywood. "We will get to the bottom of this," Krekorian said.
Law enforcement sources, who asked not to be identified because of the ongoing investigation, said they believed the shooting might have
involved Armenian gangs.
But they also said they have no evidence that the victims were
involved in gangs, noting that the case was in its early stages. The shootings come after a series of killings in the last two weeks that have diminished gains made this year in reducing the city’s homicide rate.
— Ruben Vives in Valley Village