Suspect Killed After Taking Pico Rivera Woman Hostage And Her Husband Killed In Crossfire

A Pico Rivera man was killed in the crossfire between sheriff's deputies and a wanted parolee as the parolee took the man's wife hostage inside their own home on Friday night.

Cedric Ramirez, a 24-year old gang member wanted by the Sheriff's Department gang unit, fled on foot and broke into the Mendoza family home on the 9000 block of Rosehedge Drive in Pico Rivera around 4:30 in the afternoon when he was spotted by deputies. There was an exchange of gunfire between Ramirez and the deputies as authorities tried to evacuate the house, and in the crossfire 54-year old Frank Mendoza was struck according to ABC 7.

Deputies were able to reach Mendoza and have paramedics tend to him, according to KTLA, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators have yet to determine if he was killed by the deputies or Ramirez's gunfire.

Lorraine Mendoza, wife of Frank, was taken hostage by Ramirez and the two remained barricaded inside the house through the evening. A SWAT unit was able to free Lorraine around 1:30 a.m. when they stormed the house, and Ramirez was killed. Lorraine Mendoza was unharmed in the incident, but taken to a hospital for examination.

According to the Mendoza family, Frank was only three months shy of retirement. "My father-in-law was a great man, hardworking. He had eight children and he had 10 grandchildren and two on the way. He's just a man of all mans, he was great," said his daughter-in-law, Tanya Mendoza.

Ramirez was wanted for a number of charges including being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm and auto theft. According to Lt. John Corina of the Sheriff's Department, Ramirez did not know the Mendoza family, who seem to be the unfortunate victims of this incident.