Police Cameras Capture Fatal Pasadena Shootout

PASADENA, CA — Authorities in Pasadena released police dashboard and bodycam footage from a dramatic shootout that started with an illegal U-turn and ended with a former Los Angeles County police officer dying in a hail of gunfire.

The May 8th shooting is being investigated by the Pasadena Police Department's Robbery and Homicide and Professional Standards units and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Officer Involved Shooting Team. As is routine in recent years, authorities released the footage in an effort to be transparent with the community.

The graphic video shows, 47-year-old Lloyd Nelson making an illegal u-turn and attempting to outrun police before plowing into a patrol car and firing into the windshield at point blank range. In the video, Nelson, a former Marine and cop, then gets out of his car and opens fire on police as they dive for cover behind their vehicles. Standing in the middle of intersection of Corson Street and Allen Avenue, Nelson continued to fire until he was shot and killed by police returning fire.

A motive for Nelson's action was under investigation.

It started in the afternoon of May 8 when officers attempted to pull over Lloyd Nelson, a San Diego resident who previously lived in Pasadena, after he made an illegal U-turn in front of an officer on Colorado Boulevard, near Pasadena City College. Nelson stopped the car in the middle of the street, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

As the officer attempted to make contact with Nelson, the suspect jumped into the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage he was driving and fled the scene, at which time officers began a pursuit, police said.

Nelson refused to stop and drove recklessly on Pasadena streets, prompting officers to call off the direct pursuit while a police helicopter tracked him from above, police said.

Nelson continued to drive recklessly, despite no officers being in direct pursuit, driving through red lights and narrowly avoiding striking other vehicles and police re-engaged in a pursuit, the video showed.

The pursuit ended at the intersection of Corson Street and Allen Avenue when Nelson slammed head-on into a Pasadena police SUV that was not involved in the chase, then opened fire on the police vehicle and exited the Mitsubishi and began firing at an officer, who had gotten out of the SUV and returned fire, striking Nelson.

Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene, while an officer who was struck by "friendly fire" in the leg was taken to a hospital, police said.

In addition to the gun Nelson used to fire at officers, two other guns were found inside his vehicle, police said.

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