Police are searching for the driver of an SUV who struck a bicyclist with his vehicle and then shot and killed the victim as he lay on the ground in Koreatown on May 26.

A memorial has been placed at the corner of New Hampshire and San Marino Avenue for murder victim Shaoyan Almazan. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the attack. The driver, who was only described as a Hispanic man of medium height and weight, also shot and wounded the deceased cyclist’s friend as he tried to ride away on his bicycle. The incident occurred around 1:20 p.m. as the two cyclists rode together near the corner of New Hampshire and San Marino Avenues, just south of Wilshire Boulevard and west of Vermont Avenue. Det. Armando Acero, with the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Bureau Homicide Unit, said he is still interviewing the surviving victim and other witnesses with the hope of generating leads, but is also hoping anyone with information will come forward.

“We don’t have an arrest yet and we don’t know who did it,” Acero said. “They were just riding their bikes. I don’t know if it is gang related or just a fluke.”

The deceased victim was identified as Shaoyan Almazan, 19, a resident of Koreatown. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Acero did not identify the wounded victim, but said he was a couple of years older than Almazan, and that the two routinely rode their bikes in the neighborhood. The wounded victim was shot once in the arm as he tried to ride away, and was treated at a hospital and later released. After the shooting, the wounded victim rode to the corner of Vermont and San Marino Avenue to call police.

Acero said nothing has been ruled out yet as a motive for the shooting.

“There was no indication that they were doing anything except riding their bikes,” Acero said. “There is always the possibility that it was road rage, but I have reservations about calling it road rage or something else, whether it was a stranger or someone they knew.”

The detective also said there is conflicting information about the driver of the SUV, and whether he was alone. Some witnessed told police that there was a second person in the vehicle, while others described a lone gunman. Acero said what is certain is that the driver first struck Almazan and then stopped, exited the vehicle and shot him several times. The driver then got back in and sped away. Acero said the vehicle has been described as possibly being a white Mitsubishi SUV. Witnesses also told police the driver was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det. Armando Acero or Det. Mark Morgan, with the West Bureau Homicide Unit, at (213)382-9470. During weekends and off-hours, call the LAPD’s 24-hour toll-free hotline at (877)LAPD247.