Investigations will be conducted Friday into a sheriff’s department shooting that claimed the life of a man who allegedly drove a vehicle at a deputy in Cerritos.
The deputy suffered minor injuries when he was hit by the silver-gray sedan in the 13200 block of Artesia Boulevard near Carmenita Road around 4:35 p.m. Thursday, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Eddie Hernandez. As he was being struck, the deputy fired at the suspect.
The suspect’s vehicle then crashed in the 17200 block of Pires Avenue near the shooting scene, smashing into an electrical box, taking down a light pole and shearing a fire hydrant, which unleashed a geyser and flooded streets, according to the sheriff’s department.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, and a woman was taken into custody, Hernandez said. She was not hit by gunfire.
The deputy was investigating a report of suspicious activity in the area, Hernandez said. A resident reported that the woman had knocked on that person’s door and asked for someone unknown to the occupants.
The woman was later seen near a vehicle matching the description given by the resident, said sheriff’s Deputy Trina Schrader said.
A deputy detained the woman and then looked inside the vehicle, Schrader said. The deputy saw a man reclined in the driver’s seat who refused commands to show his hands.
The man behind the wheel then started the engine, revved it and accelerated toward the deputy, who, as he was being struck by the vehicle, fired at the suspect, Schrader said.
The suspect drove west into Pires Avenue, where he struck the hydrant. The combination of gushing water and exposed electrical wires meant the area had to be rendered safe before paramedics could attend to the suspect, who was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m. Thursday, Schrader said.
The deputy complained of pain to his left and side and was taken to a hospital to be examined, Hernandez said.
—City News Service