Police say the before-dawn attack followed a dispute that began inside the bar.
LOS ANGELES, CA — A surveillance camera recorded a man fatally shooting another man outside a South Los Angeles bar early Saturday, prompting a manhunt across the Vermont Vista neighborhood, police said. Officers were called around 3:50 a.m. to the area near South Figueroa and 120th streets and found the victim on the sidewalk with at least one gunshot wound.
Authorities said the shooting matters now because detectives believe the killing stemmed from a confrontation inside the bar that spilled outside minutes later, raising concerns about late-night violence in a busy commercial corridor. The Los Angeles Police Department’s South Bureau Homicide detectives are leading the investigation and reviewing security video from a nearby gas station that captured the attack. The victim, described as a man in his 40s, died at the scene. The coroner is working to confirm his identity and notify relatives, while detectives canvass for witnesses and additional footage from surrounding businesses.
Investigators said the incident unfolded after closing time as patrons filtered onto the sidewalk. Security video shows two men leaving the bar and arguing. The suspected gunman walked off, then returned and fired a single round at close range before leaving on foot along 120th Street, according to police accounts of the footage. Officers arrived within minutes and secured the block with crime-scene tape as fire paramedics attempted lifesaving measures. “The violence stemmed from a dispute at a bar,” the LAPD said, noting that what sparked the argument remains under review.
The site sits on the 12000 block of South Figueroa Street, a stretch lined with storefronts, small parking lots and a service station whose camera captured the shooting from across the street. Police said the weapon appeared to be a .45-caliber handgun based on evidence at the scene. Detectives collected shell casings and were checking interior bar cameras to establish the movements of both men before they stepped outside. The suspected shooter was last seen walking east on 120th Street. The victim’s name had not been released as of Saturday afternoon. No arrests were reported. What exactly prompted the confrontation was still unknown, and police declined to say whether the men knew each other before the dispute.
Vermont Vista, part of South Los Angeles, has seen periodic late-night incidents tied to nightlife spots and convenience-store lots. In previous cases nearby, surveillance systems have provided the key break for detectives, capturing suspect movements and vehicles. The bar at the center of Saturday’s shooting is along a corridor that draws weekend crowds from the 110 Freeway to Manchester Avenue. Neighbors said the area is usually busy during the overnight hours, when bars close and people head to gas stations for snacks or to call rides. The latest killing adds to ongoing discussions about lighting, security staffing and camera coverage in the immediate blocks around Figueroa and 120th, according to residents who spoke generally about conditions in the neighborhood.
Police said South Bureau Homicide detectives were taking statements from bar employees and patrons and will request any additional video from nearby stores by the end of the weekend. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner is expected to conduct an autopsy and confirm the victim’s identity in the coming days. Detectives were preparing a bulletin with still images from the surveillance video and will circulate it once a clearer description of the suspect can be confirmed. If investigators identify a vehicle or additional person of interest, they could issue a community alert as early as Monday. No court filings or charges had been announced Saturday, and the department did not set a date for a formal media briefing beyond routine updates.
By midmorning, yellow tape blocked the bar’s front entrance and part of the gas station lot under flickering canopy lights. Evidence markers dotted the sidewalk near a curb painted red. A bartender who finished a late shift and declined to give her name said she heard “shouting and one loud pop” before people scattered toward parked cars. A man leaving a nearby store said he saw officers arrive “fast” and clear the area. A tow truck idled as detectives photographed the scene and checked for cameras mounted on street-facing walls and awnings. The block gradually reopened to traffic after technicians completed their work and officers removed the tape.
As of Saturday evening, the suspect had not been found and police had not released a detailed description. Detectives planned to review additional video overnight and re-interview witnesses Sunday morning. The next update is expected after the coroner confirms the victim’s identity and relatives are notified, typically within 24–48 hours. Further information on suspect images or a vehicle, if any, could be released early next week.
Author note: Last updated January 24, 2026.