Police arrest 2 suspects in West Adams shooting that left 3 dead, 12 wounded

LOS ANGLES, Calif. (FOX 11/ CNS) - Police arrested two suspects Sunday in a mass shooting that killed three people and wounded 12 others in the West Adams area of Los Angeles.

The suspects, taken into custody early this morning, were identified as 33-year-old Mowayne McKay and 25-year-old Diego Reid, both Jamaican nationals, according to detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Authorities said the suspects will be booked on suspicion of murder.

They were allegedly involved in a shooting that took place at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, in the area of Rimpau and Jefferson boulevards, where officers responded to a "shots fired'' call at a birthday party attended by about 50 adults, according to Lt. Chuck Springer of the Los Angeles Police Department's Southwest Station.

The party was taking place at a private residence that had been turned into a makeshift restaurant.

Investigators said it appears that a dispute broke out between one man and at least two other males, one of whom produced a handgun and fired it at the man. Immediately following that first shooting, several other shots were fired indiscriminately in the crowd, and there appeared to be some return fire from other party guests in the direction of the suspects, according to police.

The initial shooter, and at least one other suspect believed to have fired into the crowd, fled the scene on foot, investigators said.

A total of fifteen people were shot, including nine males and six females. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced three victims dead at the scene, including the man who was originally engaged in the argument with at least two other males. The victims' names will be released following notification of next of kin, according to Lt. Dave Smith of the coroner's office.

Injured victims were taken to local hospitals, and one male victim is in critical condition; most of the other victims have been released from care, authorities said.

Detectives from the LAPD's Criminal Gang Homicide Division today asked for the public's help in the investigation. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call detectives David Dilkes or Isidro Soto at (323) 786-5110.

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