The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has completed the autopsy of a motorist who was found shot dead with a handgun on his lap in East Hollywood, county authorities said Tuesday.
Officers from the California Highway Patrol found Roberto Iglesias III, a 20-year-old resident of South Gate, dead in a black Infiniti at the end of a high-speed freeway chase and crash.
According to the coroner’s office, Iglesias died from “a close range gunshot wound of the head.” His death has been ruled as a suicide.
CHP officers were on a routine patrol driving northbound on the Hollywood (101) Freeway just south of Cesar Chavez Avenue and saw the Infiniti speed pass them about 3:30 a.m. Saturday, triggering a pursuit.
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 running away as officers were approaching the crash. He was later apprehended.
The officers then came upon Iglesias.
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.