Five people were injured in a «tragically ironic» shooting just miles from where a gun buyback event was taking place in Los Angeles on Saturday, authorities said.
The five male victims were at Royal Palms Beach having a barbecue with a large group of people around 5:45 p.m. when two suspects approached and a physical altercation ensued, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Using a handgun, the suspects fired multiple shots at the group and then fled the scene in a vehicle.
All five victims were taken to local hospitals. As of Saturday, two were in critical condition, two in serious condition and one in stable condition, police said.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors President Janice Hahn was hosting a gun buyback event, where residents can trade their guns for compensation, just miles from the shooting site, she said in a tweet posted Saturday.
«We are outraged and saddened by the shooting at Royal Palms Beach in San Pedro that left 5 people injured. It is tragically ironic that today we are hosting a gun buyback event just a few miles from this location. Gun violence is wreaking havoc on our community,» he wrote in the joint statement with Councilman Tim McOsker.