PACOIMA (CNS) - A short pursuit in the Pacoima area today ended with the motorist, who was allegedly armed with a handgun, being fatally shot by police.
The chase ended about 10 a.m. at the Terra Bella Street offramp from the northbound Golden State (5) Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Raul Jovel told reporters near the shooting scene the pursuit began minutes earlier on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, where officers saw the driver of a blue Honda committing a “traffic violation.''
“They tried to pull the vehicle over,'' Jovel said. “The driver fled, resulting in a short vehicle pursuit. The pursuit entered the northbound 5 Freeway, where the driver exited here on the offramp to Terra Bella.
“The driver lost control of the vehicle here. As soon as the car came to rest, the driver exited the car armed with a handgun, resulting in an officer-involved shooting."
The driver, identified only as a male, died at a hospital.
Police recovered a handgun at the scene, according to the LAPD.
The offramp was closed while an investigation was conducted into the circumstances of the shooting.
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