In recent months, bloodshed in South Los Angeles has increasingly been caused by bursts of gunfire from high-capacity firearms aimed at outdoor gatherings, leaving dozens of shell casings on the ground and multiple victims dead or wounded at once. Central L.A. has seen a surge in shootings at growing homeless encampments, said Deputy Chief Vito Palazzolo, who commands the department’s central bureau. Within the encampments and on their periphery, drug disputes are being resolved with bullets by people less afraid to carry firearms than before, Palazzolo said. The LAPD commanders said residents want more to be done about the violence — a point echoed by two community advocates. AdvertisementMembers of the commission denounced the violence, and expressed some frustration that more people aren’t calling for an end to it.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 16, 2020 01:17 UTC