A pregnant woman is in critical condition and another woman was injured after a gunman opened fire on a parked vehicle in Canoga Park, California, on Sunday morning. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the shooting occurred around 7 a.m. in an alley near an apartment complex.
Five people were inside the parked car when a man approached and allegedly fired a handgun at the occupants before fleeing the scene. The vehicle then rolled down the alley and collided with a refrigerator. The two victims, both 22 years old, were transported to a hospital. The pregnant woman was listed in critical condition, while the second woman is expected to survive.
Detectives are investigating the motive behind the attack, including whether the victims were specifically targeted or were victims of circumstance. "It’s too early to say, but we have some good leads and we’re working on that," LAPD Detective Rachel Evans told NBC 4. Authorities have not confirmed if gang activity played a role in the shooting.
Police briefly detained a potential suspect but later released the individual. The gunman was described as a 26-year-old Hispanic man. Residents in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots, with one resident stating she heard approximately five shots that jolted her awake. Another resident noted a recent fatal shooting in the vicinity, contributing to safety concerns.
Investigators are working to gather more information to understand the circumstances of the attack as the pregnant victim remains in critical condition. The victims' identities have not been released, and it is unknown if they knew their attacker.