Man Killed, Security Guard Critically Injured In Shooting Outside South LA Church
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Detectives Thursday continued their investigation into a shooting that left one man dead and another injured outside a South Los Angeles church.
The shooting happened around 6:55 p.m. Wednesday in the 8800 block of South Vermont Avenue, near the 88th Street Temple Church of God In Christ.
John Matthews, 36, was escorting his wife to work when he stopped to talk to a security guard near the church's parking lot entrance, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said.
"Our deceased victim stopped on the sidewalk, he stopped to chat with the second victim, the security guard, at which point, the suspect . . . approached them and shot both victims," Lt. Dave Coleman said.
Both men were wounded and transported to a local hospital where Matthews, a father of two, died. The 35-year-old security guard underwent surgery for his wounds and was last listed in stable condition.
The suspect, described only as a black man, was last seen fleeing the area on food, heading west-bound on 89th Street.
It was unclear if the shooting was gang-related.
Anyone with information should contact the LASD's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.