Shooting that injured 5 highlights safety concerns at San Pedro beach

While five men remained hospitalized on Sunday afternoon, March 5, following a shooting at a San Pedro beach the night before, residents say there have been growing concerns about safety at the beach in recent years.

Royal Palms Beach was closed to traffic on Sunday after two men opened fire among a crowd of about 30-50 people during a small reggae concert along the strand Saturday evening, said Los Angeles Police Lt. John Moreno. The suspects had gotten into an altercation with a group of men barbecuing at the beach before opening fire, though the reason for the fight was not determined on Sunday.

The suspects fled the scene in a silver sedan, police said. Authorities had not determined on Sunday whether the shooting was gang-related.

Two victims were in critical condition Sunday afternoon, two other victims were in serious condition and the fifth victim was reported to be stable. The victims ranged from ages 20 to 50, Moreno said.

Plenty of residents continued with their regular walks along the coastline and down to the beach on Sunday despite the county closing the beach to traffic, though feelings of safety in the area had been shaken.

“I’ve been walking by here for years and the more I come by the more people I see down here,” said San Pedro resident Lori Jasunas, 44, after walking up the hill from the beach. “Its gotten louder with people blasting their music in their cars, walking around with bottles and smoking.”

“It’s turning this beautiful place to come and watch the sunset into a place to party,” Jasunas said.

Rene Warren, 65, who has lived in the South Shores neighborhood of San Pedro just above the beach for nearly 30 years, said she could hear several shots ringing from her home Saturday night but figured it was teens setting off fireworks.

“It’s a pretty common sound to here around here,” Warren said. “Never in my life did I think we’d see something like this in our quiet neighborhood.”

“Usually when we hear the police helicopters around here its because someone slipped and fell off the cliffs,” she said.

While walking through the Royal Beach park atop the hill from the beach strand on Sunday, Warren said she feels sorry for the children and parents who  frequent the park who possibly won’t return because of fears of another shooting.

“(Royal Palms) is just not as inviting as it used to be,” she said. “People will still flood here every evening to watch the sunset but now you see less kids playing at this beautiful park, more teenagers causing a nuisance.”

“It has become a tourist attraction and not everyone who comes here respects our community,” she said.

Warren said she won’t let the recent shooting deter her from continuing her daily walks but hopes to see increased safety measures taken at the beach.

Los Angeles City Council Member Tim McOsker and Janice Hahn, chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said at the scene on Saturday that they would be working with the county to set earlier closing times on the weekend for the beach.

The beach area is part of the Los Angeles County-operated White Point/Royal Palms Beach.

A description of the two suspects had not been released by authorities Sunday afternoon, according to LAPD Officer Drake Madison.