Fleeing Armed Robbery Suspect Shot to Death

CERRITOS — A fleeing armed robbery suspect was shot to death in Cerritos, although it was unclear whether the suspect shot himself or was hit by police, a Long Beach sergeant said Wedbnesday.

The suspect, believed to be in his 20s, took an undisclosed amount of cash from a pedestrian leaving a supermarket at 3575 Atlantic Ave. about 10:40 p.m. Monday night, said Long Beach Police Sgt. Steve Filippini.

The victim told authorities that the gunman fled north on Atlantic Avenue in a white Toyota van, Filippini said.

Officers saw the van, which had been reported stolen, at east Del Amo Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue. A chase began, Filippini said, ending when the van crashed into a parked car on Grayline Avenue in Cerritos.

The suspect got out of the van and ran, Filippini said.

“As the suspect was fleeing, a shot was heard coming from the suspect,” according to a Long Beach police statement.

“Officers confronted the suspect in the frontyard of a residence and ordered him to give up. The suspect failed to comply with the orders and one officer, fearing for his safety, fired his weapon at the suspect.”

A handgun, believed to belong to the suspect, was found at the scene, according to the statement.

The suspect was taken to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where he died, Filippini said.

The victim’s identity was withheld pending notification of relatives.