Downtown: Man, 59, shot by police

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Sammie Richardson, a 59-year-old black man, was shot by police on Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 4th and San Pedro streets in downtown, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

Police suspected Richardson was involved in an assault with a deadly weapon and hit and run, and tried to pull him over, police said.

Richardson led police on a low-speed chase around downtown. He eventually pinned an officer in a squad car and began ramming the squad car with his SUV, police said. The officer shot Richardson in the head.

-- Anthony Pesce