Armed suspect shot after LAPD pursuit

LOS ANGELES — An alleged domestic violence suspect led police on a chase Tuesday from San Pedro to the West Adams area, where he calmly exited his car, walked toward police and pointed a pair of guns at officers, resulting in a shooting that left the suspect and one other person injured.

The chase began about 12:25 p.m. near Gaffey and 19th streets, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police said officers were initially contacted by a DASH bus driver — who was apparently the victim of the alleged domestic violence assault. The bus driver reported that the 38-year-old suspect was following the bus in the San Pedro area. The exact nature of the relationship between the bus driver and the suspect was still under investigation, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said.

Officers initially spotted the suspect pulled over on the Harbor (110) Freeway, but as officers approached, the suspect sped away, beginning the pursuit, the chief said.

Officers chased the suspect in a white Maserati on the northbound 110 Freeway and then on surface streets in the Ladera Heights area and eventually into a residential neighborhood near West and Jefferson boulevards.

The suspect then pulled into a driveway, parked the car behind an apartment building and casually walked back along the driveway toward the street, where police were waiting. Video from the scene showed the suspect then raising both arms, apparently with guns in both hands pointed toward officers, who returned fire, leaving the suspect injured.

A female bystander who appeared to be approaching the suspect from the apartment building when the shooting broke out was later treated by paramedics on the scene for what officers called a gunshot wound to an arm. McDonnell said that person was taken to a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.

Two other females were also detained at the scene, although their involvement was unclear.

Two guns were seen on the ground near the suspect, along with a large amount of blood. Dozens of evidence markers — likely the locations of shell casings — were on the ground near the suspect and on the street where officers were situated.

The suspect was eventually treated by paramedics and wheeled on a gurney toward an ambulance to be taken to a hospital. His condition was unknown.

McDonnell said no officers were injured, and it was unclear exactly how many of them opened fire or how many shots were fired in total.

“It was very quick. It was something that — thank God no officers were injured during this — but this kind of shows just what our officers are facing our there every day, confronting a suspect who’s going to do what they gotta do to try to get away,” McDonnell said.

A woman who lives in the apartment building where the shooting occurred told reporters the suspect’s parents live at the location and the suspect has been there before.

“I just know them in passing, and it’s just a simple `hello,’ and he’s always been kind,” the woman said. “And his parents are kind. I’ve never seen any (arguments), hollering, screaming, anything. Of course, that’s his mom’s house, so I don’t know if he would have done anything somewhere else. But as far as when I see him, he’s always nice. They always speak. And this is just horrible.”