5 found fatally shot in SoCal homeless encampment

[November 03, 2008]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Five people were found shot to death Sunday in a homeless encampment obscured by heavy brush in the shadow of a Long Beach freeway, police said.

Officers received an anonymous call Sunday morning and went to an area between several commercial buildings and freeway ramps off Interstate 405. They found two women and three men, all gunshot victims, Long Beach Deputy Police Chief Robert Luna said.

Detectives have not determined a motive or identified a suspect. Coroner's investigators were sent to the scene to identify the victims and determine how long they had been dead, Luna said.

Some of the victims had been shot more than once, said Ed Winter, assistant chief in the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Dozens of detectives combed the area for evidence.

"Because of the rains last night and the heavy foliage in the area where the crime occurred, the investigative process will be slow and methodical," Luna said.

Police initially described the victims as homeless but now say they haven't confirmed that. Officials also were also trying to track down the person who tipped police.

"That's a piece of the puzzle that we're trying to figure out," Luna said. "We're hoping that person comes forward and tells us, 'This is what I saw or heard.'"

"The way they were situated, it was perfect in that no one can find the crime scene or see it," he added.

[Associated Press; By DAISY NGUYEN]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.