The crash happened around 1 p.m. Saturday in the 5300 block of Poplar Boulevard, just off Huntington Drive South near Alhambra.
The suspect was speeding in an SUV westbound on Huntington Drive and was being pursued by officers when the SUV slammed into a silver car, killing one person inside, described as a male in his 20s.
A pickup truck was also involved in the crash and rolled over onto its roof.
Four other people were taken to the hospital. One man was seriously injured, and two other men and one woman were in fair condition.
Police say they were pursuing the driver because he was speeding and driving erratically, and he refused to pull over.
"It lasted less than two minutes. He apparently accelerated at such a rapid rate of speed, they actually lost sight of (the driver's car)," said LAPD Det. Gus Villanueva.
Officers said the crash could have been avoided had the driver simply pulled over.
Police say that during the chase, the suspect had been gesturing as if he had a handgun. Officers recovered a gun from the suspect's car. The suspect fled the vehicle on foot but was chased down by police dogs and was taken into custody.
City News Service contributed to this report.
