Two men who were alleged to have been involved in a burglary in Torrance were wounded when they crashed while being chased by police in South Los Angeles and were then fired upon by officers.
The shooting occurred about 11:55 a.m. Monday at the intersection of 108th and Figueroa streets, according to Deputy Kelvin Moody of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Both men were injured in the crash and the passenger may have sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm, Moody said. Both men were taken to a hospital in fair condition, Moody said.
At least one of the men was believed to have been burglarizing a home in Torrance when a homeowner surprised him and chased him out of the home, according to Moody.
The suspect got into a gray car that fled the scene and the homeowner relayed a description and license plate number of the sedan, leading to a chase by Gardena police after the vehicle failed to stop for a traffic stop, authorities said.
The suspect vehicle crashed into a parked car and an officer-involved shooting occurred when officers attempted to detain the men.
It was unclear what prompted police to open fire, according to the sheriff’s department, which was assisting Gardena police in the shooting investigation.
The vehicle, which crashed into at least one parked car and a pole, had bullet holes visible along one side at the crash scene.
— City News Service