A teenager was shot and killed Friday afternoon while sitting in a car parked outside a 99-cents store.
Kody Cook, 18, was shot several times at the intersection of 135th Street and Crenshaw Boulevard at around 1:24 p.m., a Gardena Police Department spokesman said. Officers found the victim still seated in his vehicle in the store parking lot when they arrived at the scene.
At least one suspect approached the victim's gray 2006 BMW sedan and opened fire before fleeing on foot, investigators said.
Friends said Cook was a college student at El Camino College. They also described him as a music lover and a budding hip-hop artist.
"They've not given us any information yet on how this happened or why it happened," neighbor Al Jefferson said. "As far as I'm concerned I can't see how this could be anything other than something random."
Gardena Police Department Lt. Russ Temple said shootings are uncommon in the area.
"We pride ourselves on having a low crime rate, so it's concerning that in broad daylight somebody got shot," Lt. Temple said.
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Crenshaw Boulevard was closed between 135th Street and El Segundo Boulevard until about 4:50 p.m. as police investigated the death.
Detectives believe the parking lot and driveway was occupied by shoppers and patrons at the time of the shooting who have yet to come forward.
Anyone with information can contact detectives on (310) 217-9639.
