2 Killed In New Year's Party Mass Shooting Identified

LOS ANGELES, CA — A man and a woman who were killed in a shooting at an underground New Year's party in downtown Los Angeles that left eight other people wounded were identified Tuesday.

The shooting occurred at 12:53 a.m. Monday at 2350 Porter St., according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Deven Whitaker, a 24-year-old Los Angeles man, and Miah Banks, a 26- year-old Azusa woman, died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner and the LAPD.

According to the LAPD, officers received a radio call of an "ambulance shooting" at 15th Street and Santa Fe Avenue, and as they arrived on the scene, they heard several gunshots coming from the area of Santa Fe Avenue and Porter Street.

The officers then saw a large crowd of people fleeing the area, where there were multiple victims lying on the street and sidewalk on Porter Street, between Santa Fe Avenue and Mateo Street, police said.

Life-saving efforts were attempted, and several victims were taken to local hospitals, but a man and a woman were pronounced dead at scene, police said.

The victims were attending a New Year's Eve celebration at an underground party in the 2300 block of Porter Street, police said. During the party, a dispute occurred between unknown people resulting in shots being fired, police said.

No suspect descriptions were released, and no arrests were reported.

"On behalf of the entire City, I want to extend my condolences to those impacted by the mass shooting over the holiday weekend in Downtown Los Angeles," Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement Tuesday.

"The Office of Community Safety has worked around the clock since the incident with community interventionists as well as with the Los Angeles Police Department to provide support for those impacted and to hold those responsible accountable.

"In the coming week, I will be meeting with survivors, community leaders as well as with interventionists to discuss proactive ways we can work to ensure that all Angelenos are safe. Eliminating gun violence in our communities remains a top priority of my administration."

Anyone with information on the shootings was urged to call Det. Howarth of the LAPD's Operations-Central Bureau Homicide office at 213-996-4143 or 877-LAPD-247. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS, or use the website www.lacrimestoppers.org.

City News Service