Police were trying to determine whether two shootings, which critically wounded one person and injured two others a block apart near downtown Los Angeles, were connected Friday.
The first shooting were reported around 9:30 a.m. near Adams and Crenshaw boulevards after a 60-year-old man sitting at the bus stop was shot three times in the chest by a suspect riding a bicycle.
"I walked up to him and put my hand on his shoulder," said Gloria Trevell, the victim's neighbor. "I said, 'George, this is Gloria, come on, come on, hang in there, hang in there.'"
Six minutes later, a homeless man and woman were each shot multiple times in an alley behind a Taco Bell on 28th Street and Crenshaw Boulevard. Witnesses reported hearing 10 gunshots and seeing a black SUV speeding away from the scene.
One victim was in critical condition and two were listed as stable, according to police. Their idenities had not been released as of Wednesday evening.
Witness Leonard Cobbs said he knew the male victim shot behind the Taco Bell, and that the female victim asked for her phone so she could call her family.
"She was going in and out," Cobbs said. "I handed her the phone and she was trying to call her family to let them know what was going on."
The shootings are likely connected but are not believed to be gang-related, according to the LAPD.
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"Until I'm able to talk to the victims, look at some surveillance, and interview some witnesses, we won't be able to put this all together," Det. Joe Chavez said.
