A series of unnerving BB gun attacks on Los Angeles freeways ended with an early-morning arrest after a multi-day California Highway Patrol investigation that officers say left several cars damaged but, fortunately, no one hurt.
CHP officials say a Los Angeles man was taken into custody last week after he allegedly opened fire with a BB gun at passing vehicles on local freeways. The investigation, they said, came to a head with a pre-dawn traffic stop and an arrest on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily injury.
According to CBS Los Angeles, CHP identified the suspect as 54-year-old Martin Moreno-Pacheco and said he allegedly shot at three cars between last Friday (May 22) and last Thursday (May 28). Two of the reported incidents happened on the 405 Freeway. Investigators told the outlet they launched their probe after a motorist reported a car-to-car shooting to CHP’s South Los Angeles area office on May 26.
Officers say they later pulled over a black pickup that matched witness descriptions at about 3:40 a.m. on Friday, found a BB gun in the glove compartment, and booked Moreno-Pacheco on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily injury.
What The Charge Means
Prosecutors are looking at Penal Code section 245, which covers assault with a deadly weapon or by any means likely to produce great bodily injury. The statute can be filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances.
Per California Legislative Information, the law applies when someone uses an object, including a BB gun, in a way that could cause substantial harm. Sentences and fines vary, with steeper penalties when a firearm or other aggravating factors are involved.
How This Fits A Regional Pattern
The case taps into a troubling recent history for Southern California drivers. In 2021, CHP investigated roughly 100 car-to-car BB and pellet gun shootings on freeways including the 91. One suspect later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2022, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
That backdrop has left investigators especially cautious when they hear about shots on the freeway, and it has given prosecutors a clear track record of pursuing serious charges in these kinds of cases.
In this latest series of alleged attacks, CHP says no one was injured, though several vehicles were damaged. Officials urged anyone with information to contact Officer C. Ortega at (424) 551-4000 or, after hours, the LA Traffic Management Center at (323) 259-3200, according to CBS Los Angeles. Moreno-Pacheco remains in custody pending any formal filing by prosecutors and further investigation.
