2 men wounded in CHP pursuit

By Hector Becerra

June 1, 2008 12 AM PT

Authorities arrested two men and a teenage boy after a shootout with California Highway Patrol officers that left the men wounded, officials said Saturday.

The incident began about 6 p.m. Friday when CHP officers attempted to stop a car for a vehicle code violation, said Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela. The car sped off with officers in pursuit. Its occupants fired at police, who returned fire, hitting two of the men, police said.

Alexis Melendrez, 18, was arrested and hospitalized for a gunshot wound to the head. Anthony Paez, 18, who had been wounded, and a 15-year-old boy ran into a nearby house where they barricaded themselves, authorities said.

The pair surrendered nine hours later after police threw a tear gas canister into the home.

Paez and Melendrez face charges that include attempted homicide, Valenzuela said.

The minor faces charges related to unrelated outstanding warrants.

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Hector Becerra

Hector Becerra is managing editor of the Los Angeles Times. A native Angeleno who grew up in Boyle Heights, Becerra’s first foray into journalism was as the editor of the University Times at Cal State Los Angeles. He started his career at the Los Angeles Times in 1999 and was a general assignment reporter until 2014, covering everything from wildfires to crime to Latino cultural trends. He has been among the first to a murder scene as part of a ride-along in South L.A. and has tried his hand as a field worker, picking strawberries in Santa Maria. Becerra was part of the team of reporters that won the Pulitzer Prize’s Public Service award for its coverage of the city of Bell corruption scandal. He was city editor for the California section until 2022, when he was promoted to deputy managing editor. He was named managing editor in 2024.

2 men wounded in CHP pursuit

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