Man Shot in Venice; Gunman Flees Toward Santa Monica

A man was shot in the chest Tuesday night in Venice and the gunman fled on a bicycle toward Santa Monica, police said.

The shooting occurred about 5:15 p.m. in an alley between 7th Avenue and Ruth Avenue near the border with Santa Monica, a watch commander at the Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Division said. The gunman fired several shots and one struck the victim in the chest, the sergeant said. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and his condition was not immediately known.

The suspect, who was described only as a male black or Hispanic, fled northbound on a bicycle toward Santa Monica and eluded a containment perimeter that included a helicopter set up by police, the sergeant said.

No further information was immediately available.