[symple_googlemap title=”El Monte OIS” location=”Esto Avenue and Fieldcrest Street, El Monte, CA” height=”300″ zoom=”16″]
A suspected drunken driver was shot and killed by law enforcement gunfire in El Monte when he drove his SUV at officers while they were standing outside their patrol units at the end of a chase, authorities said Saturday.
It happened at 9:35 p.m. Friday near Esto Avenue and Fieldcrest Street, according to Deputy Trina Schrader of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Sheriff’s homicide detectives, who are assisting the El Monte Police Department in the shooting investigation, learned officers attempted to stop the suspect’s vehicle near Valley Boulevard and Tyler Avenue as they suspected he was drunk.
The man refused to stop and a chase ensued, Schrader said.
During the pursuit, the SUV collided with another motorist who was not injured. The man ultimately made his way over to the vicinity of Esto Avenue and Fieldcrest Street where he stopped at the mouth of the intersection, she said.
El Monte Police officers exited their vehicles to approach the SUV and conduct a traffic stop when the man drove into the cul-de-sac, turned around and drove toward the officers, who were standing outside their vehicles, Schrader said.
An officer-involved shooting occurred and the man was struck by the gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene, she said.
“Investigators have learned there were three officers who discharged their weapons,” Schrader said. “None of the officers on scene were injured.”
A fourth officer was injured when that officer collided with another vehicle while responding to the pursuit. The officer and the person that was struck were both transported to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries, Schrader said.
—City News Service