Los Angeles: On Monday evening, July 8, 2002, 42 year-old Mark Anthony Freeman, and Arthur Ragland, 30 years of age, were standing on the northeast corner of 42^nd Place and Hoover Street. At approximately 8:05 P.M. four male Black suspects in a white vehicle, described as a possible 1985 to 1990 Nissan Sentra, drove up and stopped their car in front of the men. One or more suspects inside the vehicle fired multiple rounds from an unknown gun or guns at the victims. The suspects sped away northbound Hoover Street toward Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Mr. Freeman sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene by responding paramedics. Mr. Ragland was transported by Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.

The motive for the attack appears to be gang related. No arrests have been made in connection to this incident.

Southwest Homicide Detectives Jeff Nolte and Don Walthers are conducting the investigation. Anyone with information that may assist in this investigation is urged to contact Southwest detectives at 213 485-2417. On weekends and during off-hours call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1 877-LAWFULL.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Eduardo Funes, Media Relations Section, 213 485-3586.