CANOGA PARK, Calif. — A 22-year-old pregnant woman is fighting for her life after a gunman opened fire on a parked vehicle in a California neighborhood early Sunday morning, leaving her critically injured and another woman wounded.
The shooting happened at around 7 a.m. in an alley near an apartment complex on the 8300 block of Northgate Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Five people were inside the vehicle when a man approached and allegedly pulled out a handgun. He then opened fire into the car before fleeing the area.
The pregnant woman was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, while another 22-year-old woman who was shot was also hospitalized and is expected to survive.
The violence unfolded quickly, but the aftermath left investigators trying to determine why the vehicle was targeted in the first place.
Car Rolls Away After Gunfire Erupts
The parked vehicle did not remain at the scene after the shooting.
Following the gunfire, the vehicle rolled down the alley and crashed into a refrigerator, adding another layer to the chaotic scene.
Police described the suspected shooter as a 26-year-old Hispanic man who approached the vehicle before allegedly opening fire at the people inside.
Detectives are now working to establish what happened immediately before the shooting and whether the gunman knew any of the people inside the car.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims and have not confirmed whether they knew the suspected attacker.
Police Investigate Possible Motive
Investigators are considering several possibilities as they work to determine what sparked the attack.
One key question is whether the victims were specifically targeted or whether the shooting was a random act of violence.
“It’s too early to say, but we have some good leads and we’re working on that,” LAPD Detective Rachel Evans told a news outlet.
Police initially detained a possible suspect after the shooting. However, investigators later determined that person was not involved in the attack and released them.
Detectives are also examining whether gang activity could have been connected to the shooting. At this point, however, authorities have not confirmed that the attack was gang-related.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to identify the gunman and establish a motive.
Residents Rattled by Early-Morning Gunfire
The shooting has also left people living near the apartment complex concerned about safety in their neighborhood.
Olga Valdez, a local resident, told that the gunshots woke her up Sunday morning.
At first, she believed the sounds might have been fireworks. But after hearing several more shots, she realized something more serious was happening.
Valdez estimated that she heard about five gunshots.
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She also said the neighborhood had experienced another deadly shooting in the area just days earlier, increasing concerns among residents who fear that violence could become more common.
Valdez believes a greater police presence could help residents feel safer and provide reassurance following the latest shooting.
Investigation Continues as Victim Fights for Life
For now, detectives are continuing to piece together the events that led to the shooting.
Police have not identified the victims publicly and have not said whether they had any previous connection to the suspected gunman.
The most urgent concern remains the condition of the pregnant 22-year-old woman, who is in critical condition at a hospital. The second woman is expected to survive.
Authorities are still working to determine why the gunman approached the vehicle, whether the occupants were deliberately targeted and what led to the attack.
As detectives follow leads in the case, residents are left waiting for answers about the early-morning violence that suddenly erupted in their neighborhood.
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