California Highway Patrol officers and Caltrans workers were fired on Thursday by an apparent transient under the cover of foliage near the Katella Avenue onramp to the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway in Los Alamitos, authorities said.
As officers arrived to assist Caltrans workers for maintenance at the off-ramp, someone opened fire on them from a tent under some brush, said CHP Officer Todd Steaffens. It is unclear how many rounds were fired, but no one was hurt, Steaffens said.
The officers retreated and called for backup. As of late Thursday morning, they were in a standoff with the suspect, who retreated back to the tent, Steaffens said. Officers were attempting to negotiate his surrender, he said.
The freeway was briefly closed in both directions, and the northbound lanes were reopened, but traffic on the southbound side was being diverted away from the scene.