Inglewood Police Kill Suspect After Chase

A suspected car thief was shot dead by Inglewood police Saturday after an early morning, high-speed chase on the city’s east side that ended when he tried to run over an officer, police reported.

The man, who died from a gunshot wound to the stomach, was identified by police as Eric D. Anderson, 23, of Los Angeles. Police said Anderson was wearing a security guard uniform but did not indicate whether he was employed as a guard.

Anderson was driving a 1986 Chevrolet Corvette that had been stolen from its owner at gunpoint Tuesday in Los Angeles, Inglewood police Lt. John Frazier said.

Anderson’s height, age and weight matched the physical description of the robbery suspect, Frazier said.

Followed Speeding Car

Shortly before 1 a.m., two officers saw Anderson, who was alone in the car, speeding south on Crenshaw Boulevard near 8th Avenue. The officers gave chase but did not know the car was stolen, police said.

With their siren blaring and lights flashing, the officers raced after the car, reaching speeds of 60 m.p.h. on the rain-slick streets, police said. Near 86th Street and Byrd Avenue, the driver lost control of the Corvette and the car spun around in the street before stopping front bumper to front bumper with the squad car.

Police said the driver then put the car in reverse and stepped on the gas. The car again spun around, this time stopping alongside the police car and blocking the front passenger door of the cruiser.

The officer driving the patrol car got out, drew his handgun from his holster and walked toward the Corvette. But, according to investigators, the man again stepped on the gas pedal and the vehicle lurched forward.

Officer Fired Gun

As the officer ran backward out of the car’s path, he fired his gun into the windshield, police said. Moments later, his partner got out of the cruiser and fired into the rear window of the vehicle, police said.

The Corvette finally stopped after it hit a nearby parked car. Anderson, struck once by a bullet, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Frazier said that the officers, whose names were not released, learned after the incident that the car had been stolen. He said he did not know how many times each officer fired.

When the car was stolen from its owner, the thief was reportedly armed with an automatic pistol, Frazier said, adding that he did not know whether a weapon was found in the car.