A man who allegedly fired at officers during a chase was shot and fatally wounded by police at the end of the pursuit on the San Diego (405) Freeway in Westchester Friday and the ensuing full northbound closure caused a morning traffic nightmare.
Officers responded to a report of a robbery around 4:15 a.m. Friday in the 5800 block of Manchester Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
When they got to the location, a cab driver told them the suspect threatened him with a gun. After directing officers to the suspect’s vehicle, a chase soon ensued, during which the suspect opened fire on pursuing officers. The chase ended on the northbound 405, according to LAPD Lt. Mike Bland.
The suspect stopped along the center divider near Howard Hughes Parkway and exited the vehicle with a handgun in his possession, Bland said.
The man did not obey commands and was shot, according to the lieutenant.
Officers, and later paramedics, were seen performing chest compressions on the suspect before he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
A handgun was recovered at the scene, Bland said.
The California Highway Patrol was alerted to the situation about 4:30 a.m. and was asked to divert all northbound vehicles at Howard Hughes Parkway.
The northbound 405 remained closed hours after the shooting, with traffic diverted at Howard Hughes Parkway, as the investigation continued.
A stretch of the freeway was closed between La Tijera Boulevard and Howard Hughes.
The northbound backup extended beyond the Glenn Anderson (105) Freeway to Rosecrans Avenue, according to Caltrans.
All lanes of the freeway were reopened by early afternoon Friday.