Police Pursuit of Suspects in Shooting Closes Freeway

Police who heard gunshots in Venice on Thursday chased the suspected shooters, at one point exchanging gunfire with one of them, and ultimately shut down the Marina Freeway during a search that involved 70 police units and five dogs.

At one point during the chase, one suspect fled across the San Diego Freeway, causing a six-car pileup. No one was seriously injured.

The incident began about 11:30 p.m., when officers heard shots fired near 7th and Brooks avenues. Police chased three men who had allegedly shot and wounded a 45-year-old man, LAPD spokesman Jason Li said. About a mile into that chase, the suspects pulled over, and police ordered them from the car. The front-seat passenger, believed to be Gustavo Perez, 21, got out, turned and fired a shotgun twice at officers, Li said. Officers returned fire, but no one was hit, he said. The suspects sped off again, now going east on the Marina Freeway. They stopped quickly to let Perez out.

While some officers chased him, others resumed the chase onto the northbound San Diego Freeway. The suspects exited at Culver Boulevard, driving briefly through residential streets until they tried to make a left turn and crashed into a chain-link fence.

One of the two men ran across the nearby San Diego Freeway, causing the six-car pileup. He was wrestled to the ground, Li said.

It took more than three hours before police had all of the suspects in custody. The other men were identified as Marcos de la Trinidad, 21, and Juan Leon, 19. The entire Marina Freeway was shut down until about 1 a.m. Friday, as were the ramps to the San Diego Freeway from Slauson Avenue to Washington Boulevard.