4 dead after shootings in East L.A.
Four people were killed this afternoon in two separate shootings that occurred within 20 minutes of each other in the same East Los Angeles neighborhood, sheriff's officials said.
The first shooting occurred about 1:20 p.m. at Jesse's Auto Sales in the 5100 block of Olympic Boulevard, where two victims were fatally shot. Authorities said the dealership was ransacked and two cars were missing from the lot -- one described as a 2001 white Dodge Dakota, license plate number 7Z41469; the other a 2000 gray Jeep Cherokee, license 4LUB195.
The second shooting occurred about 1:40 p.m. in the 1200 block of South Herbert Avenue. Authorities found two male victims in the street.
"Apparently they were absolutely unrelated," said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.
Teresa Leon, 36, who works in a sewing factory on Olympic Boulevard, said she rushed outside after hearing gunshots and a police siren.
"I've worked here for two years and it's the first time I've seen something like this," Leon said. "It's quiet around here. Now I'm a little bit scared. It makes me uncomfortable."
Hermila Delgado, who has lived on Herbert Avenue for 35 years, said one of the dead men ended up on her driveway. She said she left her house about 1 p.m. to go to the store and when she returned about an hour later police were gathered on the street and she was unable to get back in.
"I'm lucky I left when I did," she said. "I worry that a bullet could have flown into my house and hit me or one of my children."
Michael Gomez, 21, whose family also lives on Herbert Avenue, said residents were stunned. The neighborhood is made up mostly of single family homes populated by first- and second-generation Mexican immigrants.
"People get the idea that it's worse than it really is," he said of the neighborhood. "This shocked us."
andrew.blankstein@latimes.com
ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com
