The Grand Central Market is a popular place for Hispanic residents in downtown Los Angeles – Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
A Hispanic man was shot to death this Saturday afternoon outside the Grand Central Market, in the center of the city of Los Angeles.
The victim, who has not yet been identified and is believed to be between 30 and 35 years old, was taken to a hospital, but died due to a gunshot wound to the chest, said the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The shooting was reported at approximately 3:56 p.m. in the 300 block of South Hill Street, according to Los Angeles Police Officer Rosario Cervantes.
Authorities said that the attacker is still at large and no description was available so far.
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After the report of the shooting, the LAPD deployed a perimeter in the area and officers, supported by a K-9 team, moved to clear the area of a busy Grand Central Market, as well as the basement, where people sought refuge when the shots were fired.
Images captured on a cell phone inside the mall showed dozens of people running for safety after the shots were heard.
A man was left lying in the street and near him was a scooter. Witnesses mentioned that he had just been shot.
The police said that the victim had a knife in his hand when officers arrived, but so far it is unknown what was the motive that led to the shooting.
At approximately 7 pm, the LAPD confirmed that the victim had passed away at the hospital.
“Our tenants and market guests are safe. While the incident did not take place inside Grand Central Market, we will be beefing up security and proactively working with the appropriate authorities to further assess the situation,” the mall said in a statement.
“We are devastated that something happens so close to our door,” he added in his letter.
Los Angeles authorities are conducting an investigation into this case..
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