Los Angeles County deputies shoot and critically wound pursuit suspect

A carjacking suspect led the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on a quick pursuit that ended Wednesday afternoon with deputies firing shots in the Harvard Heights area, authorities said.

The suspect allegedly carjacked the car from an elderly man at about 6:20 a.m. in the 400 block of McBride Avenue. LASD investigators said he did not use a weapon but stole it by using "force or fear." The victim was not injured during the ordeal. 

At around 2:20 p.m., deputies located the stolen car at Whittier Boulevard and McDonnel Avenue in East LA. The suspect initially pulled over when the deputies initiated a traffic stop but suddenly reversed into them and struck their patrol car. 

The pursuit started shortly after, with the suspect hitting other patrol cars several times during the 20-minute chase. It ended when the suspect crashed into a pole while weaving through traffic in Harvard Heights. 

First responders carried a man on a stretcher into an LA Fire Department ambulance soon after the chase ended near South Vermont Avenue and Venice Boulevard at 2:47 p.m. A patrol vehicle was behind the silver sedan as it drove onto a sidewalk curb. 

SkyCal captured those last few seconds of the chase after authorities say the pursuit traveled along the westbound 10 Freeway. 

Huge clouds of smoke emerged from the car when it first stopped, while a person in the driver's seat was briefly visible before being covered by the smoke. Deputies surrounded the car with their weapons raised and, moments later, opened fire. Detectives said deputies started shooting because the suspect reversed into them.

Aerial footage shows the rear windshield of the car completely shattered, with several bullet holes on the trunk and the front windshield.

Deputies pulled a person from the car, who was later placed into an LAFD ambulance. The department said the suspect was struck with gunfire. He is currently in a critical condition.

The California Department of Justice took over the investigation under AB 1506. The bill requires the state to investigate any police shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian.