Wanted Man Shot By Police Following 405 Freeway Chase, Crash In Irvine
IRVINE (CBSLA) – A wanted man was shot and wounded by Anaheim police following a pursuit and violent crash late Thursday night on the 405 Freeway in Irvine, authorities said.
The suspect was identified Wednesday as 24-year-old Kenneth John Yamashita-Magarro. At the time of the shooting, according to Irvine police, he was wanted on two felony warrants for drug charges, and was also on formal probation.
Police also confirmed Yamashita-Magarro was not armed when the shooting occurred.
The incident began around 10 p.m. when an Anaheim police chopper began to follow a car that was speeding at more than 100 miles per hour on the 405 Freeway, Irvine police report.
The helicopter called for ground units, but before they could arrive, the suspect's car crashed on the freeway at Jamboree Road, near the Von Karman Avenue overpass, police said. The suspect then jumped out of the car and ran, prompting a foot chase.
At 10:20 p.m., the man was shot by Anaheim police in the area of Von Karman Avenue and Quartz. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he is in critical but stable condition Wednesday. He was not immediately identified. No officers were hurt.
It is unclear how many officers opened fire on the suspect or what precipitated the shooting.
During the incident, Fountain Valley police, Irvine police and California Highway Patrol officers also responded.
The Orange County District Attorney's Office is investigating the shooting, while Irvine police are investigating the actions of the wounded suspect.