October 04, 2026
Two Young People Shot Dead at Packed Open Mic Night in Northridge — Gunman Still at Large
Headline card by The Night Desk
Two young people — a man and a woman, both believed to be between 18 and 25 — were shot and killed late Friday night inside a packed nightclub and event space near the campus of California State University, Northridge.
What happened
The gunfire erupted around 11:05 p.m. Friday inside the Artist Lounge, an event space on the second floor of the University Plaza shopping center at the corner of Nordhoff and Reseda Boulevard, in the 18000 block of Nordhoff Street.
Footage obtained by KTLA shows a performance was underway in front of a packed crowd when shots rang out, sending partygoers scrambling for the exits. Early reports indicate the venue was hosting an open mic event.
Officers were already in the area responding to complaints about a loud party at the hall when the gunshots were reported. They rushed inside and found the two victims dead at the scene — neither conscious nor breathing.
Dozens of minors at the scene
The Los Angeles Police Department said a large party with dozens of minors was taking place at the scene. Police detained multiple attendees while trying to identify the shooter; a witness told City News Service the minors detained were later released to their parents.
A witness told KTLA the gunman appeared to be targeting two people before missing and striking another victim: "It all happened so fast. This guy pulls out a gun from his waist and aims at one person — boom — then he turned around to get another guy, but he totally missed and got someone else in the back."
The search
Police are searching for one male suspect. USA Today reported police are looking for a Hispanic male; no further suspect details have been released, and no arrests had been announced as of the latest updates. Aerial footage from KABC showed handcuffed individuals being questioned inside a sprawling crime scene that stretched across several businesses in the shopping center.
Homicide detectives were still working the scene early Saturday, gathering evidence, reviewing security footage from nearby businesses, and interviewing attendees. The identities of the two victims have not yet been released.
This is a developing story. The Night Desk will update as facts land.
Source: USA Today / KTLA / FOX 11 Los Angeles / New York Post — read the original report
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