Deputies Shoot, Kill Alleged Armed Suspect In East LA
EAST LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Gunfire rang out in an East Los Angeles neighborhood Monday night as Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies shot and killed a suspect.
"It was just like six shots," David Pineda, an area resident, said. "I probably heard a pause for like two seconds, and then maybe two more shots."
According to LASD, two deputies were on patrol near 4th Street and Rowan Avenue around 5:30 p.m. when they recognized a suspect they had encountered before. Authorities said when the deputies approached the man he pulled out a gun and shot at them.
"We believe he fired a single round," Lt. Derrick Alfred, with the LASD, said. "Deputies returned fire and a foot pursuit ensued."
Authorities said the deputies chased the suspect for about a block and opened fire again, this time striking the man.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies were injured.
I was coming from work, and I was parking to come home," Pineda said. "And I heard the shots, and I didn't even exit my car, I just stayed there while everything happened."
And while neighbors said they were shaken up by tonight's gunfight, they said the sound of gunfire is all too common.
"I feel scared and nervous right now," Kevin Juarez, an area resident, said. "It's crazy here. Like there's always drive-by's or people have shootouts."
Authorities are still combing the area for evidence, while investigators look into whether the suspect was a gang member.
The suspect's identity was not immediately released, but deputies did say they recovered a gun at the scene.