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LA Sheriff's deputies fatally shoot carjacker after pursuit, restaurant takeover in Downey
Chris & Pitts restaurant in Downey, where a suspect was shot and killed by deputies after a vehicle pursuit on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015.
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Susanica Tam
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Witness Kelly Ford was in Chris & Pitts restaurant in Downey when the suspect entered, but fled outside before the deputies shot and killed the suspect on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015.
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Susanica Tam
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A witness speaks to reporters near the Chris & Pitts restaurant in Downey, where a suspect was shot and killed by deputies after a vehicle pursuit on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015.
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Susanica Tam/For KPCC
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Update 10:27 a.m.: The Los Angeles County medical examiner's office identified the man Friday as 41-year-old Eddie Tapia, the Associated Press reports.
Previously: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies fatally shot a carjacking suspect after he led authorities on a chase, then ran off shooting and took hostages inside a Chris & Pitts barbecue restaurant in Downey Thursday evening, officials said.
No hostages were hit by gunfire and the identity of the suspect has yet to be released.
“It’s one of the most intense, dynamic situations an office can encounter,” said Los Angeles Sheriff's Lt. Eddie Hernandez.
The incident started around 6:30 p.m., when a sheriff's helicopter on patrol above Pico Rivera detected a signal emitted from a LoJack tracking system on a stolen car.
While following the car, officials said the helicopter crew witnessed the man abandon that car and carjack the driver of a second car in Whittier.
A chase ensued through Montebello, Monterey Park and into Downey where officers conducted a ‘PIT maneuver,’ clipping the back of the moving car and forcing the fleeing driver to lose control and stop. Television helicopters filmed the maneuver and the man running off. He appears to fire off several rounds as he fled.
The suspect waved a small handgun as he ran into the restaurant where Kelly Ford and several other diners were seated.
“It was shocking,” Ford told KPCC.
She heard the suspect ask for medicine before she ran from the dining room trailing her mother and five-year-old nephew. Before she left, she said she heard him say he was ready to negotiate.
Officers with the California Highway Patrol, Downey Police Department and Whittier Police Department responded to help, barricading restaurant parking lot and the shopping center across the street as well as the Lakewood exit off I-5. Sheriff's officials corralled witnesses into a nearby McDonalds for interviews.
A SWAT deputy shot the suspect through a window, officials said.
Other deputies rushed inside and said they saw the suspect crawling towards his gun. They, too, opened fire.
Officials pronounced the suspect dead at the scene.
“I felt bad about that,” Ford said. “He just wanted to get away. He said ‘I don’t want to hurt nobody.’ ”
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