The investigation was centered on Paramount Boulevard near Maxine Street, near the 5 Freeway. A portion of the residential area was blocked off with caution tape.
The incident unfolded around 2 a.m. as officers were chasing a suspect who was driving recklessly, according to the Montebello Police Department. During the pursuit, officers lost control and sideswiped a curb, and the suspect managed to get away.
Officers later located the suspect vehicle at the end of a cul-de-sac in a Pico Rivera neighborhood. As they approached the car on foot, investigators say the suspect hit the gas and tried to run them over.
Surveillance video from a home in the neighborhood captured the moment an officer can be heard saying, "Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands."
The video then appears to show the police unit getting rammed. That's when officers opened fire.
Alejandro Barajas says he and his family were woken up by the gunshots.
"We just heard a bunch of shots, maybe 15 to 20 shots, and we thought it was a drive-by or something," he said. "So when we looked out, they were shooting at a car that was right outside the house."
Barajas added that his family has lived in the neighborhood for 15 years, but nothing like this has ever happened.
"I was just shocked. I was just surprised because I've never seen that happen that close," Barajas said.
"At 2 o'clock in the morning, I heard some kind of banging, and it sounded like they were banging on my front door, so I got really scared and I called 911, the Pico sheriffs," neighbor Vivian recalled. "I'm happy that the police were here right away, so I felt safe and OK, and it was being handled right by the police department, Montebello police."
Video from AIR7 shows the aftermath of the shooting, with a lot of evidence markers at the scene.
Meanwhile, the suspect managed to drive away. It's unclear if he was struck by gunfire.
No officers were injured.