Professional boxer killed in shooting in South Los Angeles

Authorities are searching for the gunmen and the motive behind a shooting that left a professional boxer dead Sunday afternoon.

The shooting occurred in the 1600 block of 87^Th According to the Los Angeles Police Department, on the street around 4:50 p.m.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, later identified as Mylik Birdsong, was standing in front of a vehicle with his girlfriend inside when another vehicle approached.

“A dark SUV drove past on 87 westbound^Th and shot the victim,” an LAPD spokesperson told KTLA 5 News. “The victim then ran towards his apartment [when] Two suspects from the vehicle began chasing him while shooting at him.”

Birdsong fell to the ground in the driveway, the spokesman said. First responders arrived and took him to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to police, he suffered seven gunshot wounds to his upper body. The suspects fled the area in a dark-colored SUV, the LAPD said.

Birdsong, 31, was a professional boxer known as “King Malik.” He had a record of 15-1-1 with 10 KOs and was the reigning World Boxing Foundation welterweight champion.

The LA native's next scheduled fight was set for October 26th against Gor Yeritsyan at Commerce Casino.

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