Man Shot Multiple Times at Ralphs Parking Lot

A man was reported to be in stable condition after being shot multiple times in the torso Thursday afternoon in Woodland Hills. Police are searching for another man suspected of committing the shooting.

The incident occured in the parking lot of the Ralphs supermarket at Ventura Boulevard and Winnetka Avenue, across the street from Taft High School, at about 3:15 p.m.—just as school let out for the day.

No students were involved or injured in the incident.

The suspect and victim were reported to be African-American males, each about 25 years old, said Los Angeles Police Department Officer Stephanie Villatoro. The suspect fled the scene in a silver Infinity, she said.

Police did not immediately have a motive for the shooting, but suspect it may be narcotics related, said LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith, who was on the scene. "They were parked far from the store, so we don't think they were shoppers," Smith said.

Police recovered a semi-automatic hand gun at the scene. They also suspect a silver sedan parked in the lot with its door open to be that of the victim.

Smith said police have surveilance video and multiple witnesses to the shooting.

Priscilla Benito, the floral manager at the Ralphs store, said the shots were heard from inside, but the staff thought they were probably fireworks until students came running inside, screaming.

"When the ambulance came, that's when we learned what happened," Benito said.

Paramedics took the victim to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he was being treated in the emergency room, according to LAPD Sgt. Sabrina Kuhn.

City News Service contributed to this report.