(July 24, 2005, updated July 25) -- LB had two fatal shootings within twenty minutes on early Sunday morning, preceded by a high-speed wrong-way pursuit on the 710 freeway between Wardlow Rd. and PCH.

[update] In a written release, LBPD says:

• At about 2:33 a.m. in the 1400 block of 11th St., a shooting resulted in the death of one male adult and the wounding of a second.

  LBPD says its preliminary investigation indicates the two victims were standing in the alley to the rear of a residence; a group of subjects approached the victims; an unknown suspect from the group produced a handgun and fired shots toward the victims that hit the two victims.

  LBFD paramedics responded and transported both victims to a local hospital. One of the victims, identified only as a LB resident in his 40s, died of his wounds (identification pending notification of next of kin) The second victim, indentified only as a man in his 20s from LB, was listed in stable condition.

  LBPD says the "motive for the shooting is [as of July 25] still under investigation." Anyone with information is asked to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Scott Lasch or Dan Mendoza at (562) 570-7244.

• At about 2:55 a.m., one man was fatally shot and another injuried in a fight in the area of 10th St/Maine Ave. LBPD says its preliminary investigation indicates the victims drove to that area, stopped their vehicle, the passenger got out and started conversation with a group of people standing in the area...and the conversation escalated into a physical fight. The driver of the vehicle got out to help the passenger but someone from the group ran up to him and shot him in the upper torso, LBPD says.

  LBFD paramedics transported the victim, Abel Gonzaga, 36, of LB to a local hospital where he died of his injuries. The second victim, identified as a 26 year old LB resident, was in stable condition from injuries he sustained in the fight. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Richard Birdsall or Richard Conant at (562) 570-7244.

• [Info July 24 via LBPD Public Information Officer Jackie Bezart]: At about 1:30 a.m., a possible grand theft in progress turned into a high speed pursuit headed the wrong way -- southbound in the northbound lanes of the 710 freeway -- between Wardlow Rd. and PCH.

  The pursuit began in the 3800 block of Magnolia Ave. and at one point involved the suspect allegedly backing into an LBPD black and white unit. The suspect vehicle flew southbound toward downtown LB in the 710's northbound lanes and LBPD's pursuit lasted less than five minutes before officers were able to take the two adult suspects into custody near PCH.