Avery Jackson Dean, 22

Avery Dean, a 22-year-old black man, was fatally shot Sunday, Feb. 20, in the 11400 block of South Vermont Avenue in Vermont Vista, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Dean and his friends had just gotten into a car and were preparing to leave about 1:18 a.m. when multiple shots were fired into the car, according to Los Angeles Police Officer Bruce Borihanh and Lt. Larry Barr. It was not clear whether the shots were fired by someone in another car or on foot, Barr said.

The victim's friends moved him to the back seat and began to drive, searching for a hospital nearby, Barr said.

Several hospitals with emergency rooms are located within three miles of where the shooting occurred, including Memorial Hospital of Gardena, Community Hospital of Gardena and Centinela Hospital Medical Center. It was not clear why the men did not drive to those hospitals or call 911 from the car, Barr said. He said he was not sure whether the men had a cellphone.

“They drove quite a distance,” Barr said. “They were trying very hard to get assistance.”

The men drove for at least four miles, and then stopped at a service station at 154th Street and Crenshaw Boulevard, Borihanh said. They asked the clerk at the station to call 911. Paramedics responded and declared Dean dead at the scene, Barr and Borihanh said.

According to coroner's records, Dean was shot in the head.

Police do not believe the shooting was gang-related, Borihanh said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact authorities at (877) LAPD-24-7. Tipsters who'd like to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800-222-8477).

-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske