A man and a woman, both between 20 and 30 years old, were found shot dead inside an abandoned auto repair building in South Los Angeles on Saturday.
Another man is in critical condition and was also shot several times. The shooting victims were found by police dispatched at about 4 a.m. to the 6200 block of South Figueroa in response to a "shooting investigation" call, said Officer Mike Lopez of the LAPD's Media Relations Section.
"It is possible that they (the shooting victims) were homeless," Lopez said.
Manuel Vasquez, who works across the street from the old shop, said the building became an apartment complex for the people living there. He believes he knows all three victims shot Saturday morning around 4 a.m.
Vasquez said the group lived in the shop by converting it to various bedrooms over the past few months.
"It's really depressing, really sad to see lives go that way, you know," Vasquez said. "God only knows. We'll see what happens."
Police said they have very little information to help move this case forward toward an arrest.
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"This is one of those cases where we would need somebody anybody from the community who have any information at all to give us a call," said LAPD Capt. Peter Wittingham.
Neighbors said the homeless population around this area of Gage and Figueroa sometimes causes problems but they don't understand how it could cause a murder.
Neighbor Jesus Gonzalez said he is worried about the safety of his family.
"It's just crazy how it's right here," Gonzalez said. "My kids are outside playing and I was coming from work when I first found out."
Investigators have not yet identified the two people killed or the surviving victim now in critical condition.
Vazquez said if it is who he thinks it is, he wishes the man took his advice.
"I feel sad because I just told him like a week ago, you need to go home, you need to go to your sisters," Vazquez said.
Police said they tried but were unsuccessful when trying to find surveillance video in the area.
At this point, they're just searching for a break in the case and urging anyone who may have information to call the LAPD.
