SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz police are investigating a morning shooting that left one man dead on the west levee of the San Lorenzo River. The suspect fled the scene and remains at large.

Police responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 8:20 a.m. and found a man, who police say was white and in his late 20s or early 30s, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper torso. The officers provided medical attention until they were relieved by medics. The victim died as a result of his wounds at the scene.

Witnesses said the victim and the suspected shooter knew one other and had gotten into an argument, according to Santa Cruz police spokesperson Joyce Blaschke. She described both as transients and said the suspected shooter is known to police.

After the shooting, the suspect ran northbound on the levee toward Cathcart. He remains at large and is described as a white male, 6-foot-2, wearing a beige baseball cap, beige sweatshirt hoodie and dark pants. He ran off with the gun, Blaschke said. Police were searching the area to the north of the scene for the weapon.

She said there were numerous witnesses sitting under the tree nearby when the shooting happened.

First responders performed CPR, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the victim is being withheld until proper notification to family members can be completed.

The area is a popular gathering place during the day for some of the area’s transient population. There were a number of backpacks and camping chairs left at the scene.

“Detectives from the Santa Cruz Police Department’s Investigations are following up on leads on possible suspect and motive,” said Blaschke. “There is no information to indicate that this was a random event or that there is any ongoing danger to the public.”

This is the second murder in Santa Cruz this year.

On Jan. 5, Howard Atkinson shot to death his sister-in-law, 22-year-old Cherish Villapia of Iowa, in his apartment on the 100 block of Chestnut Street in Santa Cruz, police said. Atkinson, a 35-year-old who recently moved to Santa Cruz from Texas, then fatally shot himself. Police believe it was a murder-suicide.

Santa Cruz police ask anyone with information to call investigations at 831-420-5820, the anonymous tip line at 831-420-5995 or leave a tip at santacruzpolice.com or by the mobile application at http://m.santacruzpolice.com.

Santa Cruz county homicides 2016

Jan. 5: Howard Atkinson shot to death his sister-in-law, 22-year-old Cherish Villapia of Iowa, in his apartment on the 100 block of Chestnut Street in Santa Cruz, police said. Atkinson, a 35-year-old who recently moved to Santa Cruz from Texas, then fatally shot himself. Police believe it was a murder-suicide.