Studio City, CA — Man Killed in Midday Shooting at Universal/Studio City Metro Station Park and Ride Lot

Studio City, CA ( 31 May, 2026) - A man was shot and killed Sunday at the Universal/Studio City Metro Station Park and Ride lot following a verbal argument that escalated to violence, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The shooting was reported at about 11:30 a.m. on May 31, 2026, in the parking lot located on the north side of Ventura Boulevard, southwest of the 101 Freeway, near the Universal/Studio City Metro Station. Police said a verbal argument between two men escalated before the victim was shot. He was not publicly identified.

Witnesses told law enforcement that a "long gun" was used, leading investigators to believe a rifle or shotgun may have been used in the attack.

The gunman - described by police as an approximately 30-year-old man with dreadlocks - fled the scene and remains outstanding. Yellow police tape was placed around the lot, which sits across the street from several businesses.

The LAPD is investigating.

This is a developing story - additional details may be released as the investigation progresses.

What Families Should Know After a Fatal Shooting at a Public Transit Facility

Does the family have to wait for the gunman to be arrested before pursuing a civil claim?

No. A civil wrongful death claim under California law runs independently of the criminal investigation. The family does not need an arrest, a charge, or a conviction to begin building a civil case. Even if the shooter is never apprehended, other parties may be liable — and a civil claim against those parties can proceed on its own timeline and its own evidentiary standard.

Who are the potential defendants beyond the shooter?

In a negligent security case arising from a Metro-adjacent lot, potential defendants may include the operator of the Park and Ride facility, LA Metro as the transit authority with oversight of the station area, any private security contractor engaged to patrol the lot, and any property owner or manager with a duty of care to users of the facility. Each defendant's role, contractual obligations, and prior knowledge of security risks are separate questions that discovery develops.

What evidence exists here, and where is it?

A Park and Ride lot at a major Metro station is one of the most camera-dense environments in Los Angeles. Metro operates an extensive surveillance network across its station areas. The lot itself, the surrounding businesses on Ventura Boulevard, and the 101 Freeway corridor all generate footage. LAPD officers responding to a midday shooting will have body-worn cameras active. That footage begins on overwrite cycles immediately. A preservation demand sent to Metro, the lot operator, and adjacent businesses this week reaches those systems before the footage disappears. A demand sent in four months does not.

What should the family do right now?

Contact an attorney before giving any recorded statement to law enforcement beyond basic identification, before signing any documents from any transit authority or property manager, and before accepting any expression of sympathy from any institutional party that comes with paperwork attached. Document everything: the police report number, the name of every officer the family has spoken with, hospital records if the victim survived long enough to be transported, and any witness information that surfaces through social media or word of mouth in the community.

Why Injured Clients Trust The Law Offices of Christian Contreras

Attorney Christian Contreras has built one of Southern California's most active civil rights and personal injury practices - including serious cases in exactly the kind of institutional setting where a shooting like this one happens.

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His work on transit-adjacent violence, negligent security, and wrongful death has put him in front of juries and across negotiating tables from some of the largest institutional defendants in Southern California.

Contact Our Studio City Wrongful Death Attorneys

If your family lost someone in the Park and Ride lot on Sunday, the next steps are time-sensitive in a way the grief doesn't account for. The six-month window to file a Government Claims Act notice against Metro and any public entity runs from the date of the shooting - not from when you're ready.

Attorney Christian Contreras is an experienced wrongful death lawyer who has taken on some of Southern California's most complex institutional cases. When you call, we listen first. We'll explain the full timeline, identify the parties that may be responsible, and tell you whether your case is one we can take.

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Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.