Local News in Brief : Auto Passenger Slain
A passenger in a car traveling along the Foothill Freeway in San Dimas was shot and killed by another passenger early Tuesday, causing the vehicle to careen off the roadway and into a canyon, authorities said.
Mark Hawkins, 30, of Ontario was arrested about 12 hours after the shooting when he was found wandering aimlessly in the area where the car crashed, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Roxanne Schuchman said.
Hawkins was booked on suspicion of murder and then transferred to the jail ward at County-USC Medical Center after complaining of pains in his chest and legs.
Thomas Howard of La Puente was driving east on the freeway near San Dimas Avenue at 12:35 a.m. when one of two passengers in the back opened fire with a pistol, killing James L. Sullivan, 23, of Long Beach, who was sitting next to Howard, Deputy Gabe Ramirez said.
Howard, 25, was not injured.
Detectives would not say whether Hawkins was suspected of being the gunman or his companion. The other man was being sought.
The motive for the shooting was not known.
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