Crime & Safety
Man Who Shot Himself in Shoot Out with Deputies in Norwalk ID'd
Alejandro Gomez, 24, of Los Angeles died at a hospital, according to the coroner's office.
NORWALK, CA -- Authorities on Wednesday identified a man who fatally shot himself during a shootout with deputies in Norwalk.
No deputies were injured in the gunfire that erupted shortly after 9 a.m. Friday in the 10000 block of Firestone Boulevard. Alejandro Gomez, 24, of Los Angeles died at a hospital, according to the coroner's office.
Deputies went to the location -- a Target store parking lot -- on a report of a man pointing a gun at cars coming off of the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway at Firestone Boulevard, said Deputy Ryan Rouzan of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.
Find out what's happening in Cerritos-Artesiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Upon their arrival, deputies saw Gomez, who matched the description of the person in the call, attempting to break into vehicles near businesses, Rouzan said.
Deputies saw a handgun on Gomez when he began to walk westbound through the parking lot, approaching Firestone Boulevard, Rouzan said.
Find out what's happening in Cerritos-Artesiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Deputies tried to stop him from crossing the street when he put the gun to his head as if he was going to shoot himself, Rouzan said.
Gomez walked south through the parking lot back toward the businesses, at which time the deputies tried to detain him, and he continued to point the gun at his head, according to Rouzan.
Gomez stopped on the sidewalk in front of a business and attempted to rack a round into the chamber of the gun. Deputies gave numerous commands to Gomez to drop the gun, but he placed the gun to his head again, Rouzan said.
Gomez walked down the walkway toward the entrance of a local business as deputies continued to follow, attempting to prevent him from going inside.
Deputies continued ordering him to drop the gun, and he turned and pointed the gun at them, at which time they fired multiple rounds, missing him, Rouzan said.
Gomez then ran between two cars in the parking lot, placed the gun to his head and shot himself, Rouzan said. Deputies found him lying on he ground, with a semiautomatic handgun lying directly next to him.
-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock
