Police Kill Suspect in Valley Carjacking After Chase

Los Angeles police shot to death one of two carjacking suspects who wounded a motorist and fled in his car on a high-speed chase through the streets of Pacoima before engaging officers in a gunfight, authorities said.

The carjacking victim, whom witnesses identified as a man in his early 20s, was in good condition at Holy Cross Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The violent episode began about 3:30 p.m. when one of the two robbers shot the car owner in the leg outside an auto parts store at Van Nuys and Laurel Canyon boulevards, police said.

Witnesses told police the men laughed when the victim was shot, Lt. John Dunkin said.

The suspects then fled in the victim’s blue Chevrolet Blazer north on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, leaving the man writhing in pain in the store’s parking lot, police said.

Acting on a tip, police pursued the Blazer until it crashed into a curb in the 13900 block of Daventry Street, about seven blocks away. The suspect in the passenger seat jumped out and began shooting at the pursuing officers, who returned fire, Dunkin said.

“The guy with the gun unloaded on police and tried to make a break for it,” said Miguel Zeda, 20, of Pacoima, a bystander who saw the gunfight.

Officers fatally shot the gunman behind a house at Daventry Street and Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Dunkin said.

The other carjacking suspect ran east on Daventry, but was caught about a block away, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of murder because of his alleged involvement in a crime in which someone was killed.

Authorities did not release the identities of the carjacking victim, the dead man or the suspect in custody.

The owner of the auto parts store where the incident began said he called police after a woman ran into the store crying about the shooting outside. A store worker said he waited by the victim’s side until police arrived.

Wednesday’s incident was the second carjacking in as many days in the San Fernando Valley.

Hag Mahmoud Tahir, 34, of Los Angeles was being held on suspicion of robbery and assault in the beating of an Encino woman Tuesday. He is accused of pushing her out of her van, running over her and then leading police on a nearly hourlong chase through Valley streets before surrendering, police said.

Times staff writer Julie Tamaki contributed to this story.