Despite a countywide ban on parties, it seems yet another one occurred last night at a warehouse in Torrance. And, like another party that took place last week in Beverly Crest, it turned violent when five people were shot at about 12:30 a.m. this morning.
The victims include three men and two women who range in age from 19 to 39. According to LAPD Officer A. Delatorre, the victims were present at “a large party at the warehouse when an unknown suspect drove up and fired randomly.” All five victims are expected to survive.
An estimated 100-150 people were in attendance, according to NBC Los Angeles. Witnesses say they heard arguing outside, followed by gunshots. According to investigators, the shooting may have been gang-related.
The party took place at the Cutting Edge Productions warehouse located at 22904 Lockness Ave. in Torrance. According to their website, the warehouse contains a full TV studio and plenty of equipment and is available for events, trade show support and more.
The owner of the warehouse told KTLA that he rented out the space for a video shoot, not a party. The county has issued guidelines for film, TV and music productions, stating that only essential cast and crew should be present on set and that they must practice physical distancing at all times.
City officials have been attempting to put an end to large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Calabasas, Mayor Alicia Weintraub called out YouTuber Jake Paul for hosting a party and declared a zero-tolerance policy on gatherings in the city and fines for those who refuse to wear masks in public.
Following the death of a 35-year-old woman who was shot at a large party in Beverly Crest last week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti authorized utility shutdowns for residences, businesses and venues hosting gatherings. This decision also came after members of law enforcement allegedly attended a party at a bar in Hollywood. That party is under investigation by the L.A. County Department of Public Health and Alcohol Beverage Control.
It’s unclear at this time if Cutting Edge Productions will face any repercussions. This latest incident raises questions about what recourses a business owner has if customers or clients refuse to follow protocol.