2 Men Slain in Front of Building

Two men were shot and killed in front of an apartment building west of downtown Los Angeles, police said Wednesday.

Witnesses reported that about 10:45 Tuesday night they heard a verbal exchange and several gunshots from the front of a high-rise apartment in the 900 block of South Lake Street.

One victim, 32, who was described by witnesses as a transient who formerly lived in the apartment building, was shot once in the neck. His identification was withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The second victim, whose identity had not been determined, was shot in the head and upper body. The murder weapon was described by police as a medium-caliber semiautomatic handgun.

Witnesses said an unidentified male suspect in his late 20s was seen fleeing northbound after the shooting. Police said the victims did not appear to be gang members and the motive was unknown.