Andreas Lara, a 20-year-old Latino, died Sunday, Feb. 26, after he was shot in the 9400 block of Rosecrans Avenue in Bellflower, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Lara was walking in the alley behind the 9400 block of Rosecrans with two friends around 5 p.m. when a sedan drove up beside them, said L.A. County Sheriff’s Sgt. Marcelo Quintero.
Two men in the car confronted the three friends about whether they had any gang affiliations, Quintero said.
“At some point words were exchanged, and we believe the passenger in the car fired several rounds, hitting Mr. Lara,” Quintero said.
Lara was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:35 p.m., according to coroner’s records. His two friends ran when the shooting began, and were not struck by gunfire, Quintero said. They returned to the scene a short time later and spoke with investigators, he said.
The suspects were described only as Latinos in their 20s, Quintero said.
Lara appeared to be homeless at the time of his death, staying with friends in Bellflower, Quintero said. Investigators believe he lived in Compton before moving to Bellflower.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.