New Year's Eve

Gunshot Victim Found Along Metro Blue Line Tracks in Compton

Trains are turning around before Artesia Station, with shuttle bus service replacing them between Compton and Del Amo stations

An argument turned deadly at a Compton Blue Line station Friday morning when a man fatally shot another, authorities said.

The two men were seen struggling on a ramp leading away from the Metro Blue Line Artesia station at about 8:40 a.m., a witness told detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The victim was found fatally shot along the Blue Line tracks, after apparently pursuing his shooter before being shot a second time, detectives said.

A Metro security guard fired a round at the shooter, who escaped along the tracks and hasn't been caught, nor has a weapon been discovered, Sheriff's detective Lt. Steve Jauch said.

The victim, who was shot multiple times, was taken to a local trauma center after the Los Angeles County Fire Department was called at 8:43 a.m., and later died, authorities said.

Metro began searching stations in the area after receiving reports of a man with a gun on a Metro train, a Metro spokesman said.

The gunman, a man wearing a baseball cap and dark clothing, pulled out a gun during a struggle with the victim and shot at him, Jauch said, citing witness testimony.

The victim chased the shooter down the tracks before the gunman turned and fired another round at the man, who collapsed, Jauch said. The security guard then shot at the gunman, who fled on foot.

Detectives hadn't yet spoken to the security guard, and didn't know if the shooting was gang-related.

"It's something we always look into in a shooting," Jauch said.

Blue Line service was suspended at Artesia Station, and Blue Line trains were turning before reaching there, a Metro spokeswoman said.

Southbound trains from downtown Los Angeles were stopping at Compton Station and returning north, while northbound trains coming the other way were stopping at Del Amo Station. Buses were taking passengers between Compton and Del Amo.

Crimes are extremely rare on Metro trains, said Kim Upton, a Metro spokeswoman.

Only three serious crimes occur per million riders, she said, a statistic which includes non-violent crimes like purse snatchings.

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