Bicyclists shot in Koreatown appeared targeted, witnesses say

Residents reported hearing multiple gunshots in a brazen attack in which one bicyclist was killed and another wounded in Koreatown on Saturday.

A bicyclist was struck by a white SUV near the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and San Marino Street around 1:20 p.m., according to Los Angeles Police Officer Karen Rayner. 

A man then stepped out of the car and fatally shot at the bicyclist while he was on the ground, Rayner said. A second cyclist was shot while he was running away from the scene, receiving non-life-threatening injuries, police said. 

Police are searching for three male suspects in a white SUV, Rayner said.

It was not known whether the victims knew one another or whether the second victim was just a passerby, Rayner said. She said the motive for the shooting was not immediately clear and that police were investigating whether it was road rage, gang-related or a personal vendetta. 

Witnesses told CBS2 that they saw two men jump out of the SUV and open fire on the first cyclist.

Havanapola Shanti, a Buddhist monk, told the station he was crossing the street and saw the van crash into that cyclist. Others said the gunmen appeared to intentionally target the cyclist.

ALSO:

Mom accused of trying to drown son was ranting, witnesses say

Two girls die, trapped in trailer engulfed by flame

Ex-wife of police officer arrested on suspicion of Ventura murder

— Victoria Kim and Shelby Grad

Photo: Crime scene in Koreatown. Credit: KTLA News