Authorities are piecing together clues Saturday after a high-speed freeway chase ended with a crash on Melrose Avenue in the East Hollywood area of Los Angeles, where officers arrested a fleeing suspect and discovered the motorist shot dead and a handgun on his lap.
Roberto Iglesias III was a 20-year-old resident of South Gate, according to the coroner’s office. An autopsy was pending.
Officers on a routine patrol driving northbound on the Hollywood (101) Freeway just south of Cesar Chavez Avenue spotted a black Infiniti speed pass them about 3:30 a.m. Saturday, triggering a pursuit, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The suspect’s vehicle continued speeding northbound and exited on Melrose.
“The pursuit traversed several city streets and our officers briefly lost sight of the Infiniti,” the CHP said. “At approximately 3:32 a.m., they discovered the Infiniti had collided with several parked vehicles on Melrose Avenue, west of Commonwealth Avenue.”
A passenger from the car was seen fleeing the location on foot as officers were approaching the crash. He was later apprehended. The officers then came upon the motorist, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and had a gun on his lap, officials said.
Passenger Angel Anthony Aguiniga, 20, of Lynwood, was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest.
The CHP urged anyone with information about the chase or the shooting to call them at 323-644-9550. Tipsters can also contact Crime Stoppers at 800- 222-8477 or lacrimestoppers.org.