17-year-old babysitter killed in suspected gang-related Lompoc shooting

Lompoc police worked overnight Monday, investigating a deadly shooting at an apartment complex.

Officers confirmed that a 17-year-old girl, an innocent bystander who was babysitting her younger siblings, was shot and killed in what is believed to be a gang-related shooting.

Police are in a race against the clock at the Ocean Avenue Apartments, just across the street from 7-Eleven, trying to collect evidence and process the scene before Tuesday’s storm rolls in.

Investigators say a known gang member was walking through the alleyway behind the complex on the 600 block of Ocean Ave just before 7:40 p.m. Monday.

Lompoc Police Department Sgt. Kevin Martin says as that subject was walking through the alley, shots were fired and one of those bullets struck the gang member.

He was able to run through two of the apartment buildings to flee and at that moment the violence took a devastating turn.

“A 17-year-old female, not associated with the subject hears the shooting, steps outside to see what’s going on and is shot once and is killed,” said Sgt. Martin. “We’re obviously working this very hard. The crime scene is being processed right now but that’s all the details we have at this moment.”

Martin says the male shooting victim is in stable condition at a local hospital.

Officers say there is no suspect information at this time and they’re following every lead possible.