Gunfire erupted at a party on Los Angeles’ famed Mulholland Drive, leaving one person dead and four more wounded, police said Tuesday.
The shooting happened at about 1 a.m. PT at a rented mansion in the city’s Beverly Crest neighborhood, authorities said.
Two men and two women who were shot are expected to survive their wounds while a 35-year-old woman died at the hospital, police said.
They were not immediately identified and there were no immediate arrests.
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“We’re treating this as gang-related based on some evidence that they’ve located. On top of that, social media also adds to the investigation,” LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez told reporters at the scene on Tuesday morning.
Police had received calls about a large party near the shooting scene at about 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Mike Lopez said.
A NBC Los Angeles helicopter captured video of partygoers and a long line of cars going up the home’s driveway, in addition to a party bus dropping guests at the event.
While officers helped with traffic and parking control, they did not enforce the county’s health order banning large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, police officials told NBC Los Angeles.
California’s current stay-at-home order prohibits social gatherings.
State law enforcement agencies, including the LAPD, have generally opted for “education” over action against Californians not keeping social distance or those who refuse to wear masks in public.
A Los Angeles County public health representative could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday.
“We did come out here (earlier) for the public disturbance calls. It was a private party, it was indoors,” Lt. Ramirez said. “How do you enforce the fact it’s a private party? And If the city attorney wants to, we can always file additional complaints.”
This party was about eight miles northeast of a popular Hollywood bar, where a large indoor celebration was caught on camera over the weekend.
Owners of the Sassafras Saloon said they would no longer rent space to private parties after guests at a Friday night event appeared to disregard social distancing standards.
Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC News. He covers the Western United States, specializing in crime, courts and homeland security.
Liza Torres and Kurt Chirbas
contributed.
