Crime & Safety
Police ID Two Men Killed In Venice Shooting
Police continue to investigate what happened during a shooting Monday night in Venice parking lot.
VENICE, CA — Police Thursday identified two men who were killed in a shooting at the parking lot of a CVS Pharmacy and Whole Foods in Venice.
The shooting occurred about 9:15 p.m. Monday in the 100 block of Lincoln Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Christian Lopez, 21, of Culver City, died at scene and Armando Barba, 43, of Hermosa Beach, died at a hospital, according to the coroner's office.
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The motive for the shooting was still unclear.
"Both victims were standing in a parking lot when an unknown suspect approached them on foot and fired multiple rounds, striking both victims," LAPD Officer Drake Madison said in a statement.
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"The suspect fled the scene north on Lincoln Boulevard," Madison said. "It is unknown if this incident is gang-related."
One local from Venice-Mar Vista was there and had emergency responder training. He described the scene in the parking lot as chaotic.
"I was right there at the taco stand getting a taco and I heard maybe three shots," they told Patch. "I called 911 three times and they put me hold every single time, which was unbelievable. The response time was about 30 to 40 minutes to be honest."
They kept doing CPR and tried to help one of the shooting victims.
"I checked his pulse, he didn’t have a pulse," they told Patch. "I did CPR for about 20-30 minutes, called the cops again."
"I just looked at him in the eyes and I could literally tell," they said. "I could see him die. I could literally see the life leaving his eyes. It was pretty gnarly to be honest."
"I was trying to go over and help the other guy but the security guard wouldn’t let me in. He was inside and he was bleeding out," they said. "It was pretty hectic. There were two other people helping me. I don’t know their names, I didn’t get their info."
No arrests have been reported.. Anyone with information on the case is urged to call the LAPD West Bureau homicide office, 213-382-9470; or 877-LAPD- 247.
- City News Service and Patch Staffer Nicole Charky contributed to this report.
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