Pursuit Ends at Gas Station with Crashes, Gunfire

Industry, Los Angeles County, CA: A suspect led authorities on a chase Wednesday evening involving a change of vehicles that ended dramatically at a gas station with the suspect in custody in the City of Industry.

Fullerton Police officers engaged in a pursuit when a suspect, initially driving a dark colored sedan, fled from an attempted traffic stop around 4:40 p.m. Nov. 9, at Auto Center Drive and the 5 Freeway.

During the pursuit, the suspect attempted to steal a parked pickup truck in Anaheim but was unsuccessful. The suspect continued along until a parked white van in a townhome complex became the target of the next vehicle theft. At that point, a Fullerton Police cruiser parked behind the van blocking it in the space.

The determined suspect kept ramming the parked cruiser until he broke free and fled. The van eventually became disabled leaving no other option for the suspect than to flee on foot and steal another vehicle.

After entering a home in a residential neighborhood, the suspect stole keys from a resident and drove off in their white pickup truck continuing to flee authorities while recklessly driving and striking other vehicles.

The truck became disabled at a Mobil gas station at the intersection of Hacienda Boulevard and Gale Avenue. LASD deputies opened fire on the truck as the suspect rammed into their vehicles.

Witness Hector Enriquez was at the gas station near his white Toyota Camry when the pursuit came to its intense ending. Enriquez said he was pumping gas when he heard the sirens and sounds of cars crashing.

“The truck … literally pulled up behind me … and then he started going in reverse and he hit one of the patrol cars and that’s when they started firing,” said Enriquez.

Enriquez added that he hid behind a wall along with two Amazon drivers who were also at the gas station when shots were being fired at the suspect. He said there must have been at least 30 to 35 shots fired.

The suspect was apprehended by deputies and transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries around 6:15 p.m.

A deputy was reportedly transported to a hospital in unknown condition.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Randy Dominguez, Video Journalist / KNN