A chaotic scene unfolded early Monday morning when a group of suspects, reportedly using a chainsaw, attempted to burglarize a pharmacy and subsequently led police on a pursuit that ended with one suspect dead after a plunge from a bridge. According to reports by KTLA, the incident began around 4:20 a.m. in Wilmington, with the Los Angeles Police Department responding to a burglary in progress at a pharmacy located on the 200 block of East Anaheim Street.
The responding officers encountered several men purportedly trying to break into the pharmacy with a chainsaw. Once the police were spotted, the suspects fled in a white Mercedes and were chased by the officers. LAPF Officer Eisenman stated, "The suspects' vehicle drove off at a high rate of speed on Anaheim towards the 710 Freeway [and then proceeded] northbound on the 710." The situation escalated when the suspects abandoned their vehicle and attempted an escape on the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge, leading a desperate leap off the bridge, and into the water below.
While multiple suspects were reported to have jumped, one was unsuccessful in his attempt to clear the distance, striking the bridge and suffering fatal injuries. Officers detained at least one suspect on the bridge, and another was taken into custody by the Long Beach Police Department. Details obtained by CBS Los Angeles indicated that a significant police presence and investigation had caused both lanes of the International Gateway Bridge to close, with the impact on traffic flow marked by a SigAlert of indeterminate length.
The total number of suspects involved in the botched robbery, as well as the value or presence of any stolen property, remains unclear. Following the incident, scenarios where the suspects either fled or were apprehended played out, leaving an undetermined amount potentially at large.
