Tragedy In Torrence, California: Three People Are Killed After A Fight In A Bowling Alley.

There’s been yet another mass shooting in the United States. This time the place was in Torrence, California at a bowling alley last night at around midnight. An argument occurred between two women that escalated into two large groups of people fighting. Before it was all said and done, a gun was used and fired, killing three people and injuring four others. The victims include a 20 year old new father, a 28 year father of a five year old, and a 28 year old loving son all acting in the role of peacemakers.

“Three Los Angeles men in their 20s were killed and four more people were injured in a shooting late Friday night after a brawl erupted at a Torrance bowling alley filled with patrons. Police early Saturday were working to identify a suspect or suspects.

The Torrance Police Department said officers responded to calls of “shots fired” at the Gable House Bowl at 11:54 p.m. The business is at Hawthorne and Sepulveda boulevards.

As of early Saturday the shooter or shooters remained at large. Torrance Police Sgt. Ronald Harris said during a news conference outside the Torrance police station that investigators are “doing their best to identify as quickly as possible” those responsible for the shooting.

Information regarding a possible motive for the shooting; including whether it was gang-related; and whether the victims were specifically targeted was not released. Harris also did not say how many times the victims were shot. There were no reports of bowling alley employees sustaining any injuries, he said.

Harris did not release the type of gun the men were shot with. He did say officers arriving on scene treated those shot including performing CPR and using a defibrillator. Firefighters also treated victims.

All of those shot were in the same area of Gable House Bowl,  which is typically busy with patrons on a Friday night, Harris added.

“It’s a popular spot,” he said.

“Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones during this incident,” Harris said.

The Gable House Bowl is described on its website as a gaming venue that offers bowling, laser tag and an arcade.

Dwayne Edwards, 60, of Los Angeles said he received a call from his nephew that his 28-year-old son, Astin Edwards, was one of those who was fatally shot.

His nephew told him his son was attempting to break up a fight near the front entrance of the bowling alley when a gunman came up and opened fire.

“He just started unloading,” Dwayne Edwards said. “My son was hit right in the heart.”

He was told his nephew attempted to keep pressure on the wound until police arrived.

“I’m thinking this is a dream and I’ll wake up,” he said. “He was a good kid. I don’t understand it.”

Anglean Hubbard told a reporter her 28-year-old son Robert Meekins Jr. also was killed. She said he, too, was trying to break up the fight. Meekins and Edwards were best friends, she said.

Her son was a maintenance worker for ABM Parking Services, she said. He had a five-year-old son and lived in Los Angeles.

“They were just here to have a good time,” Hubbard said. “You shouldn’t have to go through this. You shouldn’t have to fear for your life.”

Also killed trying to stop the fight was 20-year-old Michael Radford, said his sister, Latrice Dumas.

“He was happy, he was always a protector,” Dumas said. “That’s how he got into this, he was trying to protect others.”

The bowling alley was known for some gang activity, Edwards said.

“There’s always a need for a police presence,” Harris said in response to the assertion of some gang activity. “We do have people that are down. Unfortunately three people did pass away tonight and that’s the biggest concern we have right now.”

Damone Thomas was in the karaoke section of Gable House Bowl, a regular stop for him and his friends after work on Fridays, when people ran in saying there was a shooting. The 30-year-old Los Angeles resident said his friend flipped over one of the tables to shield them as they heard gunshots.

Thomas said he didn’t feel scared because he was “just trying to survive.”

But when he was driving back home, he said he realized how traumatic the situation was and said he hasn’t been able to fall asleep.

“Closing my eyes, all I can see is the women against the wall crying, not knowing what to do,” he said.

Police said the three males died at the scene. Two of the four injured were transported to a local hospital for unknown injuries and the other two sought their own medical attention.

None of the bodies of those killed had been removed from the bowling alley as of about 3 a.m., said Torrance police Sgt. Paul Kranke.

Investigators remained early Saturday in the bowling alley, which he confirmed was filled with patrons when the shooting happened

“It was packed,” Kranke said.

Witnesses said a fight preceded the shooting, but details on what started the altercation were not immediately available.

Wes Hamad, a 29-year-old Torrance resident, was at the bowling alley with his 13-year-old niece and cousin when he saw a “huge fight” break out.

Hamad said the brawl, which lasted about five minutes, blocked the entrance and devolved into “complete chaos.”

“I grabbed my niece and started running towards the far end of the bowling alley,” he said. “As we were running, we heard 15 shots.”

As he was leaving, Hamad said he saw a woman weeping over a man who was riddled with multiple gunshot wounds in his head and neck.

Dozens of police vehicles were parked outside of the bowling alley early Saturday while a large crowd — including some upset and hostile people — was separated from the business by police tape. Even after 6:30 a.m., people were coming to the scene looking for information about family members.

The shooting drew national attention and social media discussions about gun violence.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Torrance Police Department at 310 328-3456.”

Another shooter is on the loose you guys. If anyone has ANY information about this case or the killers who took the lives of Robert Meekins Jr., Astin Edwards, and Michael Radford. These young men’s lives were taken tragically all because of an innocent night on the town taking in some bowling and kareoke. What’s worse? These kings may have been actually trying to break up the fight, and had NOTHING to do with the altercation.

It just makes this story even sadder. We’re sending our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the families of these heroes and to the victims who were shot.

Rest in peace Robert, Astin, and Michael.