The coroner’s office Sunday released the name of a murder suspect fatally shot at a Vernon truck yard after fleeing from members of a multi-agency gang task force and trying to wrestle a weapon away from a female officer.
Victor Nava, 24, was homeless, according to the coroner’s office.
The shooting occurred at 7:12 a.m. on Wednesday in the 5600 block of District Boulevard in a truck yard, according to the South Gate Police Department. Video from the scene showed a body covered by a sheet.
South Gate Police Chief Darren Arakawa said officers from multiple agencies involved with the task force carried out searches of various locations Wednesday, primarily homeless encampments along the Los Angeles River bed. At one of the eight targeted locations, the suspect was spotted, and fled into the Vernon truck yard, officials said.
The suspect now identified as Nava was confronted by a South Gate police officer, who was attacked by the suspect, officials said. The suspect tried to take away the officer’s gun, and eventually punched the female officer in the face. She responded by shooting the suspect, police said.
Authorities said a gun was recovered at the scene. Officers taking part in the search had been warned in advance that the suspect was believed to be armed and dangerous.
Arakawa said the suspect had an extensive criminal record and had been released from prison last year.
Details were not immediately available on the crimes for which he was sought, but they involved an attempted murder and a murder, both in early March, officials said.
The California Department of Justice was investigating the shooting.