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PARAMOUNT (CNS) - An armed man who may have been wanted for murder was fatally shot today in a confrontation involving California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department personnel on a freeway transition road in Paramount, during which a CHP officer was injured.
The shooting occurred around 8:30 a.m. on the transition road between the westbound Glenn Anderson (105) Freeway to the northbound Long Beach (710) Freeway, which was closed afterward so an investigation could be conducted, according to the CHP.
Initial reports indicated the suspect's minivan was disabled on the side of the freeway transition road, and when officers arrived to investigate, the suspect armed himself and eventually got out of the vehicle holding a handgun. Fox11 video shows the suspect holding the weapon, then shooting toward officers, who returned fire.
Although early reports indicated only that the CHP was involved in the confrontation, the Sheriff's Department released a statement early Tuesday afternoon indicating the incident was also being classified as “a deputy-involved shooting.''
“Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide investigators are responding to assist California Highway Patrol with a deputy-involved shooting investigation,'' the sheriff's statement said.
“The incident was reported Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at approximately 8:40 a.m., on the westbound Century (105) Freeway at the Long Beach (710) Freeway overpass in Lynwood. The male adult suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. There is no additional information available at this time.''
A sheriff's spokeswoman told City News Service that, although both agencies were involved in the incident, the CHP was the lead agency in the investigation and the sheriff's department was assisting only that part of the investigation that involved sheriff's department personnel.
Fox 11 reported that a CHP officer suffered a graze wound to the head and was seen walking in the area after the shooting before being treated at the scene. The suspect was seen being administered CPR at the scene before being taken away in an ambulance.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department reported only that paramedics took one person to a hospital in unknown condition.
Fox 11 reported that the man was a murder suspect, though CHP officials did not immediately provide any details.
The entire 105 Freeway was briefly closed in both directions after the shooting, creating a traffic nightmare in the region during the morning rush hour. The Garfield Avenue on-ramp to the northbound 710 Freeway was also closed due to the investigation.
Anyone with information about the incident was encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
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