Long Beach police shot and critically wounded a 28-year-old armed robbery suspect after he crashed a vehicle, authorities said Monday.
The shooting occurred about 10:45 p.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of Harbor Avenue, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
The chain of events started in Signal Hill, a city surrounded by the city of Long Beach, according to Signal Hill police Sgt. A. Gabaldon.
There was a “small pursuit,” Gabaldon told City News Service.
The man, later identified as Leonides Enriquez of Bellflower, was suspected of robbing a grocery store at gunpoint, according to Long Beach police Officer Ivan Garcia. The suspect fled as Signal Hill police arrived at the scene.
Signal Hill police lost sight of the silver 2020 Honda Accord in the area of Willow Street and Atlantic Avenue, Garcia said. They provided information about the robbery and pursuit to Long Beach police.
Enriquez crashed the car into another vehicle at Harbor Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway and arriving officers recognized the car, he said.
“The driver of the vehicle had fled the scene on foot and a community member in the area pointed out the driver to officers,” Garcia said. “Officers contacted the driver, who was armed with a firearm, and an officer involved shooting occurred.”
Enriquez was taken by paramedics to a hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, Garcia said. No officers were injured and a loaded firearm was recovered at the scene.
Enriquez was booked for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and is being held on $35,000 bail, though he is still in the care of the hospital, according to police.
Detectives also learned the Honda Enriquez was driving was reported stolen outside of the Long Beach Police Department’s jurisdiction earlier that day.
The California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert at 12:01 a.m., closing the eastbound and westbound Pacific Coast Highway off-ramps from the southbound Long Beach (710) Freeway. The ramps were reopened about 8 a.m., the CHP reported.
The officers who located Enriquez were assigned to combat the recent spike in violent crime in Long Beach, Garcia said.