Two Dead, One Injured in Venice Shooting

Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department were searching PenMar Park in Venice for clues Wednesday night, hours after a softball game was violently disrupted by gunfire.

Pacific Division investigators say a man with a 9 millimeter handgun opened fire into the bleachers. One person was pronounced dead at the scene. A second victim died at the hospital. And a third man is expected to survive his wounds.

"The suspect had driven up in an unknown vehicle," said Captain Gary Walters of the Los Angeles Police Department. "He walked up to the bleacher area and opened fire on the victims."

Hovering beyond the crime scene tape, a concerned father spoke to reporters about his son's unexplained failure to pick up his sister at high school cheerleader practice.  A few moments later, he found out that his son was one of the victims.

"He borrowed my car which is sitting over there in the parking lot, " said Salvador Diaz. "He was supposed to pick up my other daughter from cheerleading practice. When I called, he didn't answer."

Even residents who didn't know the victims were stunned by the violence. 

"Very quiet in this part of Venice. A lot of families, don't see much trouble at all, " said Josh Brown.

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"Normally all the problems stay on the other side of Lincoln," said Steven Michael King. "It's unusual, it's a first. Hopefully an only."

Police speculated that gang activity might have played a part in the attack. But investigators said it was too soon to determine who fired the shots, and who they might have intended to hit.

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