Carjack suspect shot dead by police after chase in South Gate

SOUTH GATE, Calif. (KABC) -- A carjacking suspect led police on a short chase before crashing into multiple cars in South Gate, where he fled on foot before being fatally shot by police on Tuesday.

The incident began around 7:45 a.m. when a South Gate police officer got a LoJack hit on a Honda Pilot, which was reported to be stolen from Los Angeles earlier Tuesday morning.

When officers tried to pull the suspect over, he sped away and a chase ensued. The suspect evaded police for a short distance before he sped through an intersection and rear-ended a vehicle with one passenger on board. The suspect's car then spun out and struck three parked cars. At least four wrecked cars were seen near the location.

The suspect ditched his vehicle and fled on foot through an apartment complex near California Avenue and Santa Ana Street. That's when an officer-involved shooting took place. The suspect died at the scene, police said.

South Gate police did not release much information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Authorities did say, however, that the suspect was holding a pellet gun that looked like a semi-automatic handgun.

The woman in the first car struck by the suspect was transported to an area hospital. Her condition was not known. The Los Angeles Fire Department said a total of two people from the scene were transported to hospitals. The nature of the second person's injuries was not clear.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is assisting in the investigation. If you have any information about this incident, you're urged to contact the LASD's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.