Police on Thursday identified one of two men they believe may be responsible for a shooting outside a 7-Eleven in Panorama City that left two people dead and one injured hours earlier.
Officers responded to the gunshot victims near Sepulveda and Roscoe boulevards about 5:55 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The victims were found just outside the convenience store in the parking lot. One person was taken to a hospital.
Police said the shooting was "not a random act."
One of the suspects was identified as Angel Santana, 29, police said.
"Santana is a known gang member and with his appearance, it won’t be easy for him to hide," LAPD Capt. Todd Chamberlain said. "We’ve already alerted CHP and the US Border Patrol to be on the lookout for Santana en route to or trying to cross the border."
An acquaintance of the two victims said the men were sitting outside the convenience store as they waited for a bus.
"I know that these guys didn't do anything to deserve this," said Dammon Rogers. "They were just sitting there already. Just waiting on a ride."
Maryjoe Whalen, the mother of one of the victims, said she saw her son shortly before the fatal shooting.
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"I just got on the bus. I couldn't even make it to work and got the phone call," Whalen said. "My son was dead."
Investigators said that a group of black men in their mid 20s were involved in a confrontation with Hispanic men before the shooting, but they were not sure whether it happened on or off the 7-Eleven property.
Police said they believe the shooting was over more than just race, but it was unclear whether it was gang or drug-related.
Officers were still searching for Santana and one other person as of Thurday evening.
