Three people were fatally shot, including two women waiting to go to church, and at least four others were wounded within an hour in the San Fernando Valley, in what police believe to be a series of "random" killings, officials said.
A man and two women were killed in shootings that happened in a span of 55 minutes and within a 5-mile radius in the San Fernando Valley early Sunday.
The first shooting happened at 5:50 a.m. when a 20-year-old woman was fatally shot in the 1400 block of Celis Street in San Fernando, Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Frank Preciado said. The woman was with her family on their way to early morning mass when someone came up and shot at them.
All five members of the family were struck by gunfire. Police said one person was in grave condition following the shooting.
The second shooting happened at 6:35 a.m. in the 13000 block of Borden Avenue in Sylmar. A man between 25 and 35 years old died from a gunshot wound.
Ten minutes later, a third shooting was reported in the 1200 block of Filmore Street in Sylmar. An African American woman was shot in the head, police said.
Sources told NBC News’ Andrew Blankstein that the woman was sitting in a car waiting for a friend to go to church before the gunman or gunmen pulled up and shot her in the head.
Family members said she stopped to pick a friend before heading to Guardian Angel Church.
There was a mattress on the sidewalk with satanic symbols spray painted on it.
Neighbors say the mattress had been there, but it did not have those symbols prior to Sunday's shooting.
Police are looking for two men that witnesses said were driving a gold or tan sport-utility vehicle. Sources did not immediately reveal the weapon that was used.
The area where the shootings occurred is about 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.
Police were asking that anyone with information to call 1-877-527-3247.
Reggie Kumar contributed to this report.