One man was injured and another detained by police near a World Cup watch party in Koreatown, Los Angeles, on Thursday evening following reports of gunfire. The incident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. near James M. Wood Boulevard and Normandie Avenue.
A reporter for the Los Angeles Times witnessed three gunshots and saw a man in brown pants firing into the air. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a report of a shooting in the 800 block of Irolo Street around 6:44 p.m., confirming that at least one person was transported to a local hospital.
Video footage from the scene depicts an injured man lying on the ground with a bleeding leg, which bystanders were applying a green garment as a tourniquet. Nearby, a police officer guarded another man, who appeared to be unharmed but was later seen in handcuffs and being led away by authorities.
Witnesses near Seoul International Park, where crowds had gathered to watch the Mexico vs. South Korea World Cup match, reported hearing fireworks earlier and some were unaware of the shooting. The Los Angeles Police Department had not immediately released details regarding the incident or the motive behind the gunfire.
Traffic was diverted in the area as emergency services responded. Despite the incident, many soccer fans continued to move through Olympic Boulevard, energized by the match.
