A man was found dead Thursday in the vicinity of where shots were fired in a confrontation with California Highway Patrol officers and Caltrans workers at a San Gabriel River (605) Freeway ramp in Los Alamitos, prompting an hours-long closure of the southbound lanes.
As officers arrived to assist Caltrans workers for ramp maintenance, a man opened fire on them from near a tent under some brush about 9:20 a.m., CHP Officer Todd Steaffens said late Thursday morning. The officers retreated and called for backup as the suspect holed up inside the tent, Steaffens said.
Later, at the scene, CHP Officer Duane Graham said: “Two of our officers made contact with a male — an adult male — and at that time an officer-involved shooting occurred.” Authorities did not say who fired the shots.
The body of the man believed to be the suspect was found about 1 p.m. amid heavy brush, Steaffens said.
The freeway was briefly shut down in both directions Thursday morning. The northbound lanes were soon reopened, but all southbound lanes remained closed from Carson Street to the San Diego (405) Freeway through early afternoon, resulting in major traffic woes for motorists trying to maneuver around the area.