Motorist Slain on Freeway Shoulder

A man southbound on the Golden State Freeway in Pacoima was shot several times at close range by another motorist Saturday after the victim had pulled to the shoulder to change a flat tire, police said. The man later died from his wounds.

The shooting occurred about 5:20 p.m. near the Van Nuys Boulevard onramp, where the victim’s green Ford Explorer stood cordoned off and surrounded by police cars and investigators late Saturday, long after paramedics had transported the victim to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Witnesses described seeing a man park a beige or white pickup truck near the disabled vehicle, approach the victim and fire several shots from two to three feet away before climbing back in the pickup and driving off, said LAPD Lt. Rick Papke.

“Officers responded and found a male black slumped over a tire jack at the back of the vehicle,” Papke said.

Officials withheld the victim’s name until his family could be notified. “We have no idea what the motive was,” Papke said.

He added that officials have no indication that the two men knew one another or were involved in any sort of dispute. The victim was traveling alone, Papke said.

Freeway traffic backed up for hours after the shooting.