Deputies said two victims were critically injured and four others later arrived at hospitals.
CARSON, CA — A man was killed and six other people were wounded early Sunday when gunfire broke out during an illegal street takeover in Carson, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
The shooting has opened a homicide investigation into a chaotic gathering that drew numerous onlookers to an intersection before dawn. Deputies have not announced any arrests, named a suspect or said what led to the gunfire. The case remained active Sunday as investigators worked to identify witnesses and piece together what happened.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies responded at about 3 a.m. Sunday to the area of Charles Willard Street and Harmon Avenue, where authorities said an illegal street takeover was underway. When deputies arrived, they found three people who had been shot. Los Angeles County Fire Department crews treated the victims at the scene. One man was pronounced dead there, and two other people were taken by ambulance to a hospital in critical condition. “There were numerous onlookers present,” the Sheriff’s Department said in an update, adding that investigators wanted to speak with anyone who was at the takeover.
Officials later learned that four more gunshot victims had taken themselves to local hospitals. Authorities described those injuries as not life-threatening. That brought the total number of people struck by gunfire to seven. The dead man had not been publicly identified pending notification of relatives. Officials also had not released the ages or names of the wounded victims, though at least one report said one of the victims was 16. Lt. Steve DeJong of the Sheriff’s Department said one person died at the scene, two were taken by ambulance and four others self-transported to hospitals. Investigators had not said whether the victims were drivers, passengers, spectators or bystanders.
The shooting happened during what authorities described as an illegal street takeover, a gathering where drivers often block intersections and perform stunts while crowds watch. Such events have drawn growing attention across Los Angeles County because they can quickly shut down streets and make it difficult for emergency crews to reach injured people. The Sheriff’s Department maintains a public street takeover statistical summary and has said the gatherings threaten public safety and quality of life in communities it patrols. Carson, a city in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County, is served by the Sheriff’s Department’s Carson Station. The shooting scene was in an industrial and commercial area, where wide streets can attract late-night vehicle gatherings.
No charges had been filed by Sunday night, and officials did not report any arrests tied to the shooting or the takeover. The Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau is leading the investigation. Detectives were expected to review witness statements, hospital records, video from the scene and any available surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras. Officials had not said how many shooters may have been involved, whether a weapon was recovered or whether the gunfire came from inside the crowd or from a vehicle. The circumstances leading up to the shooting remained unknown, and authorities did not release a motive.
The shooting left investigators with a large potential witness pool because officials said many people were present when the gunfire started. Street takeovers often draw people who record video on phones, and detectives were likely to seek footage showing the moments before and after the shots were fired. The Sheriff’s Department said in its update that investigators were urging anyone at the takeover to come forward with information. The public appeal came as officials worked to separate the shooting investigation from the broader takeover, including who organized the gathering, who was driving and whether any cars involved left before deputies arrived.
The case stood Monday as a homicide investigation with six surviving victims and no announced arrests. The next major update is expected when sheriff’s officials identify the man who died, release more information on the wounded victims or announce a suspect in the shooting.
Author note: Last updated June 29, 2026.