3 dead, 4 injured in shooting at California bowling alley

Three people were killed in the shooting that started as a fight.

January 5, 2019, 10:17 AM

Three people were killed and four others injured in a shooting at a bowling alley in California, late Friday evening.

The shooting stemmed from a fight that took place between a group of people at Gable House bowling alley in Torrance, according to witnesses at the scene.

"Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple subjects with gunshot wounds inside the location," Torrance police said in a statement. "Officers began life-saving measures which included CPR and the use of a defibrillator."

PHOTO: Police officers work at the scene of a fatal shooting in Torrance, the United States, Jan. 5, 2019.
Police officers work at the scene of a fatal shooting in Torrance, the United States, Jan. 5, 2019.
Zhao Hanrong/ Xinhua via Newscom

In addition to the three dead at the scene, four others were treated for injuries. Two men were transported to the hospital by ambulance, while two others "opted to seek their own medical attention."

The three dead were identified as Robert Earl Meekins Jr., Astin Kyle Edwards and Michael Di'Shawn Radford late Friday by the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office.

"There was a big group of people, seemed like they were having fun earlier," eyewitness Dana Scott said. "People were laughing, having a good time, next thing we know there was a fight and it was the girls. ... So they were yelling and cussing and fighting and people were on the floor and then some young men got into the fight. ... Probably not even a good minute later, we heard gunshots.

"People started running to the back of the bowling alley and on the floor and between the lanes and between the cushions and the benches. ... It was nothing good to see."

PHOTO: Investigators work at the scene of a fatal shooting in Torrance near Los Angeles, Jan. 5, 2019.
Investigators work at the scene of a fatal shooting in Torrance near Los Angeles, Jan. 5, 2019.
Zhao Hanrong/Xinhua via Newscom

Sen. Kamala Harris tweeted that her "heart breaks for the victims," and said "we must do more to address gun violence."

"Americans should be able to go to a bowling alley and be safe," she tweeted.

PHOTO: Three people were killed and four injured in a shooting at a bowling alley in Torrance, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019.
Three people were killed and four injured in a shooting at a bowling alley in Torrance, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019.
OnScene.TV

Torrance Police Department said it responded to the scene at 11:54 p.m. They had tweeted just after midnight, "Reports of shots fired with multiple victims down."

An investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and it is unclear whether any shooter or shooters are on the loose.

Torrance is about 20 miles south of Los Angeles.

PHOTO: Three people were killed and four others injured in a shooting at a bowling alley in Torrance, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019.
Three people were killed and four others injured in a shooting at a bowling alley in Torrance, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019.
OnScene.TV