A shootout between two cars along roadways near where the 91 and 710 freeways meet prompted police to swarm a North Long Beach neighborhood and place a school on lockdown late Tuesday morning.
The two cars were heading southbound on Long Beach Boulevard when the suspects started shooting at one another, LBPD spokeswoman Arantxa Chavarria said. The incident is being investigated as possibly gang related.
Officers in the area were locked down multiple crime scenes: one at a Shell gas station at Long Beach and Artesia boulevards, a second at Artesia and the 710 Freeway and a third near where the 710 Freeway and 91 Freeway meet, according to a police spokesman.
Police said the driver of one of the cars was taken into custody without incident. They are looking for at least one other assailant, and found evidence that at least one person was shot.
An Audi parked at the gas station was dotted with bullet holes on the driver’s side hood. Police found a gun near the scene, Chavarria said.
One woman said her SUV’s window was shot out while she was exiting the freeway.
“I was just coming off the freeway when I heard a bang on the window,” said Angelica Rodriguez.
She parked the SUV at a nearby doughnut shop. Rodriguez said she and her mother were both inside the car but escaped unharmed.
Police said they were originally called to the scene around 11 a.m. after someone reported shots fired near Artesia and Long Beach boulevards.
Speaking through a translator, Elizabeth Montes said she was inside a small market when she heard seven or eight shots. She rushed outside but didn’t see anything until officers arrived a couple of minutes later.
A nearby school, King Elementary, was locked down at 11 a.m., according to the school district. Students at the school were safe, but authorities kept the lockdown in place as a precaution until about 1 p.m., district spokesman Chris Eftychiou said.
At around 3:30 p.m. Chavarria said police hoped to have the scene cleared in a few hours.
Anyone with information is asked to contact LBPD Gang Detectives at 562-570-7370. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smart phone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
