Body of Woman Thrown by Suspect in I-105 Chase Identified by Coroner's Office

A 30-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting a woman and pushing her from a car while he led sheriff's deputies on a chase was arrested today after barricading himself inside an apartment complex in Hawthorne.

The woman was identified by the coroner's office this afternoon as 24-year-old Selene Patricia Mayoral of Cudahy.

Juan Diego Valencia of Los Angeles was booked on suspicion of murder and was held on $1 million bail, said Lt. Holly Francisco of the Sheriff's
Homicide Bureau.

Investigators stated that use of drugs was part of the acquaintance relationship between the suspect and the victim. 
  
About 11:15 p.m. Thursday, a deputy from the sheriff's Century Station
pulled the green Mercury Cougar over because of an unspecified violation in the 4100 block of Alma Avenue in Lynwood, Francisco said.

After the driver stopped at the curb, "the deputy heard a gunshot and
saw a flash from inside the car before the suspect drove the car away at a high rate of speed,'' Francisco said.

"During the pursuit, the suspect pushed a woman out of the car at the
intersection of Josephine Street and Harris Avenue in Lynwood,'' Francisco
said. "Sheriff's deputies continued the pursuit of the suspect, while other
deputies tended to the woman.''

Mayoral had suffered a gunshot wound to the upper body and was
pronounced dead at the scene, said Deputy Peter Gomez of the Sheriff's
Headquarters Bureau.

Meanwhile, the chase led onto the westbound Glenn Anderson (105)
Freeway, Francisco said. The suspect exited the freeway, stopped the car and ran inside an apartment complex in the 14000 block of Chadron Avenue in Hawthorne, Francisco said.

Deputies surrounded the complex, and a SWAT team was called in.

Around 1:50 a.m., after announcements were made urging the man to surrender, he walked outside and was taken into custody, Francisco said. A firearm was recovered at the scene, he said.

Anyone with more information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff's
Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

From City News Service