Van Stolen Near Monrovia Involved In Fatal Police Shooting In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — Authorities Tuesday investigated the fatal officer- involved shooting of a suspect who led police on a chase from South Gate to Long Beach while at the wheel of a van believed to have been stolen.

The chase led to the general area of Cherry Avenue north of Artesia Boulevard, where the driver of the van pulled into a Target parking lot around 12:30 p.m. Monday, and he and a 27-year-old woman got out and ran away along railroad tracks near the business.

As the pair fled, both with backpacks, the male suspect reached into a black backpack and put a glove on his hand, according to sheriff's Deputy Kimberly Alexander. The man then reached into the bag and pulled out a black object and pointed it at the officers, leading officers to open fire because they thought it was a gun, authorities said.

The man fell to the ground and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman fled to a warehouse near the shooting scene. The warehouse was evacuated, and she was found inside hiding among some shelving, sheriff's Lt. John Corina told reporters.

The van was reported stolen three days ago out of Duarte.

No gun was immediately located in the dead suspect's possession, Corina said. It was unclear what he pointed at officers.

A 23-year-old man who had been in the van got out early in the chase and surrendered to police, authorities said.

Sheriff's homicide detectives were assisting South Gate police in the shooting investigation.

— City News Service, photo via Shutterstock