Police on Sunday continued their search for the gunman who shot a 15-year-old boy at Dockweiler State Beach the night before. The teen was wounded when an apparent gang fight erupted into gunfire, an LAPD spokesperson said.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition after suffering a single gunshot wound, according to spokeswoman Officer Norma Eisenman.
The teen told police he had been in the area of Lifeguard Tower 55 in the 11400 block of Vista Del Mar around 7:20 p.m. Saturday when a confrontation broke out near him and he heard a gunshot. Moments later, he realized he had been shot, according to Eisenman.
The suspect, whose description was not available, fled in an unknown direction before officers arrived at the scene. As of noon Sunday, no arrests had been made. Bystander footage streamed live on the Citizen app showed police diverting traffic away from the scene.
Footage from bystanders showed that police had cordoned off the scene and were directing beachgoers and drivers away from the area.
Eisenman said a preliminary investigation suggested the shooting stemmed from a gang dispute, but did not offer further details.
Although violence has occasionally occurred on the beach, a popular spot near LAX known for large parties and bonfires, the surrounding area has historically had lower violent crime rates than other parts of the city.
The incident comes as gun violence continues on a downward trend. According to the most recent LAPD statistics, there have been 51 fewer people shot citywide so far this year, a decrease of about 30% from the same period in 2023.
