3 in Custody After Fatal Shooting Leads to Pursuit

Los Angeles police arrested three men overnight after a fatal drive-by shooting that led to a pursuit and neighborhood search in South Los Angeles.

The shooting took place about 2:30 a.m. outside of the Burger Factory restaurant located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Normandie Avenue, said Officer Aareon Jefferson of the Media Relations section and LAPD Sgt. Carlton Brown, watch commander at the LAPD's Southwest Division.

A man was killed in the shooting, Brown said. His name was not immediately released, but family members identified him as 28-year-old Demond Jones.

After the shooting, at least three people fled in a car. The chase ended near 46th Street and Budlong Avenue when the subjects ran from the car and into a neighborhood, police said.

Police said officers happened to be in the area and witnessed the shooting.

The LAPD searched the neighborhood and declared a citywide tactical alert, which meant that officers could be held over beyond the end of their shifts. The LAPD also brought in police dogs to assist in the search of the neighborhood around 46th Street and Budlong Avenue.

Two of the men were captured, but the third man barricaded himself in the backyard of a house. He was finally taken into custody three hours later around 5 a.m.

The LAPD did not release the names of the three men, but said they believe the men are gang members. Police did not know if the victim was a gang member. 

Family members of the victim said he was was caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting.

"I think the guy was riding around looking for a victim," said his father Demond Jones.

He said his son was physically disabled with a bone disease that made it difficult for him to walk. 

"That was like killing a 5-year-old kid," Jones' father said. "He was just really kind of innocent like that."

He said Jones was not in a gang.