1 Killed, 2 Injured in Venice Shooting

One person died and two were wounded late Sunday night in a shooting in the violence-plagued Oakwood section of Venice, police said.

As many as 10 shotgun and rifle blasts were heard before the shooting, and gunfire was also reported a few blocks away, police said.

Pacific Division police called for as many as 20 backup officers to help control crowds. Officers were seeking a suspect.

The shootings came amid high tension in the neighborhood, which was already blanketed with police because of two recent incidents in which officers were the target of gunfire.

“For a one square mile area we have 10 police officers in there,” said watch commander Lt. Steven Allen.

Police Chief Willie L. Williams is scheduled to hold a “town hall” meeting with residents Thursday in the neighborhood.

The area is home to several low-income housing projects, a black gang, a Latino gang and a growing number of newcomers gentrifying the neighborhood, all of which has created wide-ranging tensions, according to police.