An allegedly armed man suspected of attempting to carjack a pickup truck on the Foothill (210) Freeway in Sylmar was in police custody Wednesday following a shooting by at least one Los Angeles Police Department officer that closed the freeway for more than six hours.
Around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, uniformed LAPD narcotics officers assigned to the Mission Division spotted 21-year-old Jason Vega, who had outstanding warrants, in the 14000 block of Bledsoe Street, police said. Vega fled onto the embankment of the eastbound side of the freeway, ran across lanes and tried to carjack a westbound pickup truck, according to the LAPD.
When officers caught up to Vega, he was armed with a handgun, refused commands to drop the firearm and was shot, police said.
Vega went down, still disregarding officers’ commands and “moved toward the firearm,” police said.
Officers then shot Vega with a 40mm less lethal launcher they described as an “intermediate force option to gain compliance.”
Vega was taken to nearby Olive View Medical Center, where he was treated and cleared for booking, police said.
A Glock handgun allegedly was recovered at the scene. No one else was injured.
The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is investigating the shooting.
The westbound freeway was closed at the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway throughout Tuesday afternoon, causing a major traffic backup heading into the evening rush hour.
A Sigalert for the closure of westbound lanes was canceled at 8:55 p.m Tuesday and the 210 reopened shortly after 9 p.m., CHP Officer Elizabeth Kravig told City News Service.