Authorities are investigating a shooting at the Tiffany’s on Vine nightclub in Hollywood that left a man hospitalized early Monday morning.

A man was shot on Oct. 10 after a dispute occurred at the Tiffany’s on Vine nightclub. Police said the venue has no history of problems. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The shooting occurred shortly before 2 a.m. as patrons were leaving the club. Two women who were inside the club got into an argument, which continued after they walked outside.

A man with one of the women, who ended up becoming the shooting victim, was in a vehicle in the parking lot. He pulled out a gun and confronted the other woman, who was with another group. A male suspect from that group retrieved a gun from a vehicle, and the shooting started. The gunman fled the scene and is being sought by police.

“The victim got hit three times,” said Det. Paul Hendry, with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division. “It started as a dispute between two females, possibly over a phone.”

Hendry said the victim was struck in the upper torso and was taken to a hospital in stable condition. He underwent surgery and is expected to survive. Police recovered the victim’s handgun at the scene.

The man who was shot is being held in custody at the hospital because he is a suspect in a murder that occurred last year in South Los Angeles. Hendry didn’t have any further information about the murder, but said the victim is a gang member.

The gunman was described as a black man in his 20s. No previous incidents involving violence have occurred at the nightclub, Hendry said.

The detective supervises a Hollywood Division unit formed a month ago to investigate violent crime in the Hollywood Entertainment District, which is located between La Brea Avenue and Gower Street, and Franklin Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. The new unit has five detectives.

“Captain Cory Palka (commanding officer of the Hollywood Division) understands the importance of Hollywood. The Hollywood Entertainment District is a high tourist area and he wanted an investigative team to handle that area,” Hendry said. “It is focused on violent crime. [Palka] wanted to be proactive.”

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call detectives at the Hollywood Division at (213)972-2943.