Authorities are searching for a one-eyed gang member who fatally shot two other men in front of a Van Nuys, California 7-Eleven convenience store early Thursday morning.
According to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department, Angel Santana, 29, and another unidentified suspect allegedly began shooting at two men, after a brief confrontation which occurred at around 6 a.m. in the 8000 block of Sepulveda Boulevard.
Capt. Todd Chamberlain with the LAPD Mission Division commented, “Santana is a known gang member and with his appearance, it won’t be easy for him to hide.” Chamberlain added, “We are still trying to piece together what motivated the shooting. But we do know enough to know that this was not some random act. It appears that there was some rivalry or animus between the groups.”
#BREAKING: 2 ppl found shot, killed in 7-Eleven parking lot in Panorama City http://t.co/hrCmzDDpLq pic.twitter.com/unnuJQkzfT
— KTLA (@KTLA) July 17, 2014
2 found dead outside 7-Eleven on Sepulveda and Roscoe boulevards http://t.co/aqDI0EJlb9 pic.twitter.com/UdsSyNRbVq
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) July 17, 2014
The LAPD describes Santana as being 5 foot 7 inches tall and 150 pounds. The shooter is missing his left eye, and has tattoos on the right side of his jaw and neck and over his left brow. Santana owns a Ford F-150 pickup with California plates, and police have notified the California Highway Patrol and the United States Border Patrol to be on alert.
Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroner’s office, said that the victims have yet to be identified, though both appeared to be in their twenties and were shot during a verbal argument, according to Detective Juan Santa. A third bystander was injured during the shooting, and was taken to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
#LAPD – Police activity at Roscoe/Supulveda. Please avoid the area.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) July 17, 2014
Image via The Los Angeles Police Department