Mario Castro, 26

Mario Castro, a 26-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Thursday, Aug. 23, in the 1800 block of South Ardmore Avenue in Harvard Heights, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Police responded to a call regarding a shooting about 4:40 p.m., according to an LAPD news release. When authorities arrived, they discovered Castro lying in the roadway with gunshot wounds to his torso.

Officials said Castro was taken by paramedics to California Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m.

During the investigation, detectives learned Castro had just parked his car and was exiting the vehicle when a white SUV pulled up and the occupants came up to him. At that point, words were exchanged and Castro was shot several times. The shooters then fled north on Ardmore Avenue.

Investigators said there were at least four to five occupants in the car. They were described as Latino.

The incident is believed to be gang-related.

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to contact West Bureau homicide Det. J. Freund at (213) 382-9470. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times