While five men remained hospitalized on Sunday afternoon, March 5, following a shooting at a San Pedro beach the night before, residents say there have been growing concerns about safety at the beach in recent years.
Royal Palms Beach was closed to traffic on Sunday after two men opened fire among a crowd of about 30-50 people during a small reggae concert along the strand Saturday evening, said Los Angeles Police Lt. John Moreno. The suspects had gotten into an altercation with a group of men barbecuing at the beach before opening fire, though the reason for the fight was not determined on Sunday.
The suspects fled the scene in a silver sedan, police said. Authorities had not determined on Sunday whether the shooting was gang-related.
Two victims were in critical condition Sunday afternoon, two other victims were in serious condition and the fifth victim was reported to be stable. The victims ranged from ages 20 to 50, Moreno said.
Plenty of residents continued with their regular walks along the coastline and down to the beach on Sunday despite the county closing the beach to traffic, though feelings of safety in the area had been shaken.
“I’ve been walking by here for years and the more I come by the more people I see down here,” said San Pedro resident Lori Jasunas, 44, after walking up the hill from the beach. “Its gotten louder with people blasting their music in their cars, walking around with bottles and smoking.”
“It’s turning this beautiful place to come and watch the sunset into a place to party,” Jasunas said.
Rene Warren, 65, who has lived in the South Shores neighborhood of San Pedro just above the beach for nearly 30 years, said she could hear several shots ringing from her home Saturday night but figured it was teens setting off fireworks.
“It’s a pretty common sound to here around here,” Warren said. “Never in my life did I think we’d see something like this in our quiet neighborhood.”
“Usually when we hear the…
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