A carjacking suspect is currently in critical condition following a deputy-involved shooting that ended a vehicle pursuit in Pico-Union. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), the incident began early Wednesday morning when a man allegedly stole a car from an elderly person using "force or fear" in East Los Angeles. The man did not use a weapon during this crime, as reported by CBS News Los Angeles.
The suspect repeatedly rammed both patrol and civilian vehicles, according to LASD Lieutenant Patricia Thomas. A Toyota Camry, reported as the stolen vehicle, led deputies on a chase that started after their response to the initial carjacking and ended abruptly when the vehicle hit a pole near Venice Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. "The stolen vehicle was used as a deadly weapon several times," Thomas said, as stated by NBC Los Angeles.
The chase, which at one point traversed the westbound 10 Freeway, concluded when deputies opened fire after the suspect allegedly reversed the car into them. This was captured on video by SkyCal, with aerial footage showing extensive damage and bullet holes to the vehicle. "Huge clouds of smoke emerged from the car when it first stopped," described CBS News Los Angeles, following the standoff that resulted in the suspect's shooting.
"The investigation is ongoing," and no additional information is available at this time, as per LASD's alert on Nixle.
