Further investigation of Saturday’s two early-morning
shooting incidents outside the Sigma Nu fraternity house and in Lot
8 reveal that additional incidents ensued during and after a party
on Gayley Avenue.
Sigma Nu did not sponsor the party, but rented its space to
entertainment group hosts 3 Tha Hard Way, who dubbed the party the
“UCLA Blue and Gold Bash.”
The only person injured in the shooting, an unidentified
non-UCLA student who was shot in the ankle, has since been released
from medical care.
University police first received a call around 1 a.m. Saturday
morning regarding suspects jumping on cars in Lot 8, two blocks
from the fraternity house.
UCPD was next contacted by the party’s security around
1:30 a.m. asking for help escorting the crowd of roughly 1,000
people out of the area. Due to the large crowd waiting to get into
the fraternity house, the party had spilled out onto the
street.
Although the party closed down around 1:30 a.m., large numbers
of people remained in the area.
Around 2:30 a.m. shots were fired in front of Sigma Nu, wounding
an unidentified victim. Police responded to the shooting but did
not make any arrests.
Nearly 10 minutes after the first shots, additional shots were
fired in Lot 8. UCPD responded to the scene and arrested four
individuals not affiliated with the university. The individuals
were arrested on various charges, ranging from grand theft to
possession of stolen property.
Around 3:30 a.m., people were allegedly held at gunpoint and
robbed in Lot 8.
UCPD Sergeant Jim Vandenberg, one of the investigators in the
parking lot incident, said though Lot 8 is an easy target because
borders Gayley Avenue, these incidents are arbitrary and vary from
structure to structure.
“(Robbery) shifts from parking structure to parking
structure … 25,000 cars park a day at UCLA,” Vandenberg
said.
The party advertised space for more than 700 people, but when
more people showed up, large crowds ““ around 200 people
““ waited near the house and in the street.
UCPD has a responsibility to ensure the streets are cleared so
people don’t get hurt, he added.
Vandenberg was unsure of when UCPD received the first complaints
of excessive crowds in the street or noise disturbances. Witnesses
of the party have said it was unmanageable long before the shooting
occurred.
Saturday’s shooting is the second such incident in less
than three weeks at or near UCLA. Earlier this month, trespasser
Willie Davis Frazier was shot by UCPD Officer Terrence Duren during
an altercation in Kerckhoff Hall.
Bob Naples, dean of students, said the university is
investigating the matter and is trying to get as many facts as
possible.
“As soon as we have information, we will take
action,” he said.
With reports from Adam Foxman, Bruin Contributor.