A fatal shooting in Playa Vista, a community bursting with “Silicon Beach” technology start-ups, might have involved Westside gangs, police said.

The victim was identified by authorities today as 21-year-old Tomas Luna Gomez. Los Angeles Police Department Officer Mike Lopez told City News Service the attack might have been gang-related.

Gomez was shot while driving his pick-up truck near Jefferson and Inglewood boulevards about 8 last night, according to LAPD statement. 

He rear-ended a motorist before driving to Slauson Avenue and Braddock Drive, where police found him, the LAPD said. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics declared Gomez dead at the scene, police said.

Slauson Avenue and Braddock Drive is the heart of Culver City Boys gang turf. A homicide detective told us the victim “is not on file as a gang member, but we're still looking into it.”

“There are no gang wars on the Westside right now,” he said.


An LAPD Pacific Division gang detective we spoke to agreed, saying, “It's been fairly quiet.”

In the past Culver City Boys has waged bloody battles with the Venice 13 and Santa Monica 13 gangs, although all now pledge ultimate allegiance to the Mexican Mafia.

“Sometimes they'll have treaties,” the gang investigator said.

Anyone with information about Monday night's homicide was asked to call LAPD West Bureau detectives at 213)-382-9470.

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