An armed suspect was shot and killed Thursday after leading deputies on a high-speed, multi-city chase in California that turned into a hostage standoff, authorities said.
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He fired shots into the air as he bailed on foot and rain inside Chris & Pitts restaurant, where dozens of people were dining.
Deputies shot and killed a man with a gun after he burst into a crowded Downey barbecue restaurant Thursday, sending patrons and employees fleeing.
A chase ensued through Montebello, Monterey Park and into Downey where officers conducted a ‘PIT maneuver, ‘ clipping the back of the moving vehicle and forcing the fleeing driver to lose control and stop.
Announcing the death, Comm. Parker said it had been a hard night.
The Los Angeles County sheriff’s division was monitoring the stolen auto by helicopter.
“As patrol deputies from Pico (Rivera) station were headed to that location, the helicopter pilot and observer watched as the suspect carjacked a person at gunpoint”, Parker said.
The suspect had holed up inside a barbecue restaurant in the city of Downey, in southeast Los Angeles, police said.
The suspect waved a small handgun as he ran into the restaurant where Kelly Ford and several other diners were seated.
After over an hour inside, NBC Los Angeles reported that a gunshot was heard and a tactical response unit swarmed the restaurant, using flash bang grenades as they entered the building.
A police chase quickly ensued, with the stolen auto driving as fast as 80 miles per hour on some stretches of the road. It’s also unclear whether any hostages were being held, though no one else was hurt, Parker said.
Witnesses said the man inside was asking for “medication”, with unconfirmed reports saying he was begging for heroin.
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Asked if he thought he would be shot by the gunman, he replied, “That’s the only thing going through my head at that point, was: What’s this going to feel like if this guy decides to do something?” Deputies opened fire after the suspect ignored their commands to put down his weapon, the news release stated.
