Shooting Wounds Man Outside Polling Place at Watts School

A man was shot at the balloting location during LA's March 5 primary election, police said

In an apparent dispute over a love triangle, a poll worker was shot and wounded outside a Watts elementary school auditorium that was being used as a polling place during Tuesday's primary election, police said.

The 35-year-old man, who police said was a poll worker, was shot off campus at 9:40 a.m. at 92nd Street Elementary School, in the 9200 block of Grape Street, prompting a temporary lockdown of the campus, police said.

According to the preliminary investigation, the victim and gunman were arguing outside the polling place when the gunman shot the other man before fleeing, police said.

The shooting victim, who was not immediately identified, was in stable condition at a hospital.

Police initially reported that they were searching for a woman in connection with the case, but later said they were looking for a man who was responsible for the shooting.

Police were still looking for him Tuesday afternoon.

A woman who was involved in the dispute was taken into custody for questioning, police said.

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The Los Angeles City Clerk's Office couldn't immediately confirm whether the injured man had been a poll worker.

The school was placed on lockdown for a short time, according to the Los  Angeles Unified School District.

The shooting shocked students, school staff and parents who received phone calls and letters explaining the situation. Counselors were available for those needing assistance, officials said.

"We were, like, all scared," Joana Perez, a student, said. "(My teacher) just told us to calm down and don't open the door to any people."

The City Clerk's Office brought in a mobile polling station so that voters could continue to vote.

NBC4's Nyree Arabian, Rosa Ordaz and Ellen Winston contributed to this report.


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