What started as a hunt for a shooting suspect turned into a rolling spectacle across South Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, as LAPD patrol cars and a helicopter trailed a driver who seemed determined to test the limits of city streets.
Officers tracked the car across neighborhoods and into nearby Hawthorne and Inglewood, while stunned residents and drivers watched the vehicle slice through traffic, dart into parking lots, blow through red lights and head straight into oncoming lanes.
How the chase unfolded
The pursuit kicked off near Imperial Highway and Vermont Avenue, where officers began following a driver wanted in connection with a shooting, according to CBS Los Angeles. From there, the suspect led police into Hawthorne and Inglewood, repeatedly swerving onto the wrong side of the street and cutting through parking lots in an apparent attempt to shake the patrol units.
CBS Los Angeles reported that the car narrowly avoided other vehicles while running multiple red lights during the chase.
Helicopter footage shows reckless driving
From above, the scene looked just as tense. Live SkyFOX helicopter footage tracked the suspect as the car tore along surface streets at speeds up to 50 mph, blowing past stop signs and red lights, as reported by FOX 11 Los Angeles. The outlet noted that it was not immediately clear whether the driver was armed.
What police are saying
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed it was chasing a suspect wanted in a shooting, but investigators did not immediately release details on any arrests or injuries connected to the incident, according to CBS Los Angeles. Officials have also not shared further public information about the shooting that set the pursuit in motion.
Live coverage and community impact
As officers worked to bring the chase under control, local TV stations locked in. SkyFOX hovered overhead while reporters tracked every turn and detour on live broadcasts, with FOX 11 Los Angeles noting visible police activity in sections of Hawthorne and Inglewood while the pursuit played out below.
