Police Shoot, Kill Ex-Convict

A 34-year-old convicted burglar who had been released from state prison 2 1/2 months ago was shot and killed by Inglewood police as he attempted to flee in a stolen car, authorities said Saturday.

Inglewood Sgt. Bill Thompson said two patrol officers spotted Christopher Garrett Grant when he ran a stop sign near Centinela Park in Inglewood at about 11:20 p.m. Friday.

When the officers attempted to stop Grant, he led officers on a two-minute chase at speeds as high as 70 m.p.h., Thompson said. At the intersection of Stepney Place and Park Avenue, the suspect lost control of his car. The 1978 Mazda later was found to have been stolen, police said.

The officers, whose names were not made public, attempted to arrest Grant, but he took off again with one officer holding on to the side of the car for about 25 feet, Thompson said. The officer fired his service revolver, fell to the ground and continued firing as the car drove off, Thompson said.

The other officer, thinking his partner had been shot, also fired at the suspect, Thompson said. Grant, who suffered a single gunshot wound, lost control of the car, fled on foot and collapsed. He was declared dead at the scene. The officer who fell suffered no serious injuries.

Grant, whose address is unknown, had been convicted of nine burglaries, had 14 aliases and five Social Security numbers, according to authorities.