A shooting in Canoga Park has left a pregnant woman in critical condition and a second woman injured.
The shooting happened at the 8300 block of Northgate Avenue in an alley near an apartment complex, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police say five people were inside a parked car when someone opened fire, hitting the two women.
Investigators are now trying to determine whether the shooting was random or targeted.
The suspected gunman was described as a 26-year-old man. According to the LAPD, the man approached the vehicle, produced a handgun, shot both women and then left the scene.
The LAPD arrested a possible suspect, but later released the person after it was confirmed that they were not a suspect.
Police have not released the victims’ names, but they are both said to be 22 years old.
Neighbors say they are shocked a shooting happened just feet from their homes.
“We just had a shooting where two females were shot. One’s pregnant and in critical condition. One’s going to be okay, and so we’re working on figuring out what happened to them. We have some good leads,” detective Evans with the Los Angeles Police Department said.
After the shooting, police say the car rolled down the alley and crashed into a refrigerator.
Detectives have not said whether the victims knew the shooter—or whether the attack was random.
“It’s too early to say, but we have some good leads and we’re working on that,” detective Evans said.
Police are also investigating whether gang activity played a role.
Olga Valdez, who lives nearby, says the sound of gunfire woke her up around 7 a.m. Sunday morning.
At first, she thought it might have been fireworks and estimates she heard about five shots.
Valdez says there was another deadly shooting nearby about a week ago. She believes more police patrols would help residents feel safer.
It was not clear if the incident was gang related.
