While you were sleeping: Weekend shootings keep Rampart busy

This went under the radar for us, but police need your tips so we thought we’d pass it along anyways.

Last Saturday night just before 2:00 am, Rampart officers responded to a call about a shooting along the 400 block of North Westlake Avenue and found a man with a gunshot wound in his leg (he told them it came from a car driving by). The man was taken to the hospital where he was treated.

Minutes later, another shooting on the radio at Glendale Boulevard and Park Avenue. Officers found an abandoned tan colored Mercury van on the southeast corner. Then, minutes after that, another shooting victim was reported to be at a hospital on the 1700 blog of West Temple Street. Unfortunately, that person died.

More from the LAPD Blog:

The detective’s investigation revealed that the driver of the Mercury van had been driving on the 400 block of Westlake Avenue when he was involved in an exchange of gunfire with the victim standing on the sidewalk.  The victim who was driving the van, apparently was also wounded during the exchange.  The driver victim drove away from the scene and eventually collided with a black midsize vehicle on Burlington Ave and Temple Street.  The van continued eastbound on Temple Avenue, to northbound Glendale Boulevard where it stopped at Park Ave. The driver then abandoned the van, left the location, and was found nearby by two unidentified citizens who drove him to the medical facility.  Detectives’ believe that this incident may be gang related.

If you have any information, please call LAPD Rampart Homicide Detective Cortina or Pere at 213-484-3634.

During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.