A 16-year-old boy was killed, and six others were wounded in a shooting at a mansion party in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California early on Sunday, February 9. The shooting occurred after an altercation, sparking a wide-ranging manhunt for the suspect.
The incident occurred shortly before 1:30 a.m. at an upscale property in the 5900 block of Winnetka Avenue, home to a party of an estimated 200 to 300 attendees. The mansion, listed as a “New Construction-LA Mega Mansion” on Booking.com, is at the end of a winding hillside driveway between Hatteras and Oxnard streets and commands nightly rates of $2,100.
LAPD Lieutenant Guy Golan stated that the incident began in the mansion’s basement, where the suspect was present. “The suspect was somewhere in the home’s basement when an altercation occurred. A bouncer or security guard was escorting the suspect out of the home, and when they reached the first floor, the suspect opened fire at the dance floor.” The suspect, who is still on the loose, reportedly fired multiple shots before escaping.
The deceased victim has been identified by the Medical Examiner’s Office as Sah-Dell Roberts, 16, who died from multiple gunshot wounds at the scene. The other victims, all Hispanic men aged 19, 21, 25, and two 34-year-olds, were transported to various hospitals in stable condition, as per police reports.
The shooting caused panic among the hundreds of attendees at the luxury home. Video footage captured crowds fleeing in all directions, including down steep hills into the yards of neighboring properties to avoid the gunfire. Multiple witnesses reported people climbing over fences and rushing through neighboring properties to escape.
Rage Parties, the event organizer, stated on social media that one of its founders and a security team member were among those hospitalized. “We have a lot of people to interview; we’ve identified a bunch. We need to go to the hospital to follow up with the victims to find out what they know,” Golan told Eyewitness News.
Although the mansion is known to host events, local law enforcement has not considered it a problem. “Maybe a couple of radio calls in the past, but nothing like this,” Golan explained to KTLA. The party was a “flyer party,” an event often promoted through social media that can attract unexpectedly large crowds.
LAPD detectives were still processing the scene for evidence as of 8 a.m. Sunday. Attendees of the party informed Eyewitness News that the mansion is equipped with multiple security cameras, which could provide crucial evidence in identifying the at-large suspect.
“There were approximately 200 to 300 party-goers here, and some sort of altercation occurred, which resulted in multiple shots being fired,” Golan said. The investigation has become complex as officers worked to gather statements from the many witnesses who had dispersed amidst the chaos.
The LAPD’s Valley Bureau Homicide Division leads the investigation, focusing on physical evidence and eyewitness accounts. Investigators are particularly interested in reviewing security camera footage and any cell phone videos that may have captured the incident. Police began gathering statements from party-goers within minutes of arriving on the scene.
The Los Angeles Police Department is urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.