A member of cleaning crew was shot and stabbed early Tuesday outside a Target store parking garage in Van Nuys.
The victim, whose name was not immediately released, was found on the ground next to his Fleetwash pickup. He was hospitalized in critical condition after the shooting in the 5700 block of Sepulveda Boulevard. The man in his 40s, identified by police as a member of a private cleaning crew, later died at the hospital.
The worker was cleaning the lot with a high-pressure hose when the attacker approached from behind and opened fire, police said.
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His co-workers were inside the building at the time of the shooting and stabbing, police said. They likely did not hear gunfire because of the noise made by the high-pressure washer.
"They noticed the pressure in the hose had been reduced," said Lt. Jim Gavin. "They went out to see if he was ok, and that's when they found him with several gunshot wounds."
One person was in custody after the 5 a.m. shooting, according to police. The individual, who was found in the pickup, might have been under the influence of bath salts, a synthetic drug, police told NBC4.
There doesn't appear to be any connection between the suspect, who is a reputed gang member, and the victim, who was not connected to any gang, police said.
