Police Searching for Suspects in Compton Mini-Mall Fatal Shooting

COMPTON, CA - The hunt was on Tuesday for whoever gunned down three men, killing two of them, outside a mini-mall in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County bordering Compton, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

The shootings occurred about 5:15 p.m. Monday in the 13000 block of South Avalon Boulevard, according to the LASD.

Two men died at the scene. One was identified as Eric Bellard, 37, hometown unknown, coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter said. The name of the other fatally wounded man was withheld, pending notification of kin.

A third man -- found wounded several blocks away -- was hospitalized in stable condition.

"Witnesses told deputies that the victims were standing in the parking lot when the suspect pulled up next to them and began shooting," a sheriff's statement said. "The suspect exited the vehicle and continued to shoot at the victims. The suspect returned to the vehicle and drove off in an unknown direction."

Anyone with information on the shootings was asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters also can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. All tips can be made anonymously.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock