Barricaded Suspect in Vehicle Racing Toward CHP Officers Prompts Shooting

South El Monte, Los Angeles County, CA: California Highway Patrol officers from the East Los Angeles area were involved in an officer-involved shooting with a possibly armed suspect barricaded in a vehicle facing the wrong direction on the 60 Freeway in the city of South El Monte early Tuesday morning.

CHP officers were traveling westbound on the 60 Freeway approaching Peck Road around 12:15 a.m., Jan. 10, when they observed a black Toyota Prius stopped within the traffic lanes ahead of their location. Officers stopped traffic in order to assist the occupants. As officers approached the vehicle, the driver exited the Toyota and walked toward the officers with his hands inside his waistband stating he had a weapon, according to CHP’s news release.

“Officers gave multiple verbal commands to the suspect, however, the suspect was uncooperative and returned to his vehicle, where a standoff ensued,” stated CHP.

Additional CHP officers, along with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station deputies responded to assist CHP with a possibly armed suspect and standoff on the 60 Freeway.

All westbound and eastbound 60 Freeway lanes were completely shut down due to the standoff.

CHP officers utilized less lethal options as the suspect continued to ignore commands while barricaded inside the vehicle.

Just after 1:00 a.m., the suspect sped toward the officers at high speed at which point an officer-involved shooting occurred and the Toyota came to a stop, according to CHP.

The suspect vehicle was observed coming to a stop about 10 to 15 feet from where the officers were positioned.

No one was injured during the officer-involved shooting, according to CHP. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident just before 2:00 a.m.

CHP had all westbound 60 Freeway lanes closed at the 605 for the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, and remained closed until around 9:00 a.m.

The 40-year-old male suspect from Compton was booked at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Reception Center and the investigation remains open, according to CHP.

Please contact the CHP Southern Division Major Crimes Unit at (323) 259-3410 with any information regarding this incident.

Randy Dominguez, Video Journalist / KNN