Laurel Canyon Traffic Stop Leads To Fatal LAPD Shooting

PACOIMA, CA — Los Angeles police shot a driver at the end of a pursuit on the northbound Golden State (5) Freeway, shutting down the freeway Monday. The driver, who was allegedly holding a handgun when officers shot him, died at the hospital.

The chase began in the Pacoima a traffic violation, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Instead of stopping, the driver led police on a pursuit, ending at about 10 a.m. at the Terra Bella Street offramp from the northbound 5 Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

LAPD Lt. Raul Jovel told reporters near the shooting scene that the pursuit began on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, where officers spotted a blue Honda.

"They saw the driver commit a traffic violation," Jovel said. "They tried to pull the vehicle over. 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," Jovel said. ``As soon as the car came to rest, the driver exited the car armed with a handgun, resulting in an officer-involved shooting."

At least one officer fired, and officers recovered a handgun from the scene, the LAPD reported. Broadcast reports from the scene showed first responders performing CPR on the suspect after he was shot.

Paramedics took a person to a hospital in grave condition, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. According to the LAPD, the wounded person is a male, whose age and name were not immediately available. He died a short time later.

The offramp was closed while an investigation was conducted into the circumstances of the shooting. All lanes of the freeway were reopened by 10:30 a.m., according to the CHP.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.