Suspect shot by police at end of chase near Watts was not armed, LAPD says
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A dangerous chase ended in gunfire on the 105 Freeway in South Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon.
Police said the suspect, who they believed was armed and dangerous, led officers on a short foot pursuit before they fired shots. Though it turns out the suspect did not have a gun when officers opened fire.
Investigators said the suspect reached his hand into a backpack during the foot chase, and that's what led an officer to fire shots.
The shooting happened just before 2:30 p.m. in the middle of Central Avenue, just south of the 105 Freeway in the Watts area. It all started as a chase just about a half-mile away in Nickerson Gardens.
Police said the chase did not last long, and within just a few minutes, the suspect drove on the on-ramp, trying to get on the 105 Freeway.
The suspect changed his mind and turned around. AIR7 video from above the scene shows the suspect driving the wrong way down the on-ramp.
Police say that's when the suspect got out and took off, sparking the foot chase.
At some point, officers said the suspect reached into a backpack, and a five-year veteran with the force opened fire.
When investigators searched the suspect's backpack, no gun was found. The suspect was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
"You have to believe that there is an immediate defense of life. So tonight, what will happen is that those officers will be interviewed. That officer, specifically the one that did fire at the suspect, will have to articulate exactly what he believed was happening at that moment, or what he saw, or believed he saw. So a lot depends on that," Det. Meghan Aguilar said. "Also, of course, our officers are all equipped with body-worn video. That video is here at scene and will be reviewed, and he will be asked about what investigators see in that video."
The investigation into the chase and subsequent shooting is ongoing. It wasn't immediately clear what sparked the initial chase in the Watts area.
