Investigation underway in Beverly Hills after man shot from across street outside restaurant

A shooting investigation was underway in Beverly Hills after a restaurant patron was shot from across the street Monday evening. 

"Although the motive for this crime is unknown, we do not believe this is a random act," said Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook. "There is no threat for the Beverly Hills community."

According to Beverly Hills Police Department investigators, the shooting happened before 11:45 p.m. in the 100 block of N. Cannon Drive, when a man dining at a restaurant in the area stepped outside for a moment to smoke. 

As he was smoking, he was struck in the lower back by at least one bullet that was fired from across the street, though he detailed that he heard multiple shots fired. The suspect who fired the gun then got into a waiting vehicle that fled from the area. 

The man was rushed to a nearby hospital and is said to be in stable condition. 

Footage from the scene showed a large area taped off by investigators, and at least one window of a nearby bank that had been shattered by gunfire.

While authorities were working to locate a suspect and determine a motive in the shooting, residents were reminded of the troubling increase in crime plaguing their area. 

"I thought it was just another incident in Beverly Hills," said Barry Ross, who lives in the area. "It's just ongoing almost daily with crime in the area."

Just on Saturday, thieves slammed into the front of the Niemann Marcus storefront on Wilshire Boulevard and McCrery Drive with their car before taking off with several items. 

The incident is just another in a rampant series of violent crimes that have hit Beverly Hills, Hollywood, the Melrose District and the surrounding region.

"It's just getting to the point where it's just hard to go to lunch and sit outside and have a meal," Ross said. "You can't wear any nice jewelry or anything anymore. It's just unfortunate."

Residents have consistently been targeted by follow-home robberies, to the point that Los Angeles Police Department officers had to issue a citywide warning urging residents to avoid wearing nice jewelry, expensive purses and/or clothing while visiting high-end bars, restaurants or shops. 

In response to the rampant spike in crime, City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell called for more than $200,000 reallocation to be redistributed from his office to LAPD in hopes of increasing police patrols in the area, citing a 75% skyrocket in homicides, a 35.6% increase in shots fired, a 24.7% jump in reported thefts and a 19.4% increase in robberies. 

For many residents, including Ross, that can't come soon enough.

"Until there's some kind of adjustment in the laws then it's just gonna continue to go on," he said.