San Fernando chase suspect shot to death by police

SAN FERNANDO, Calif. (KABC) -- A man was shot to death by San Fernando police following a short chase that ended in a crash on Monday.

According to San Fernando police, the pursuit lasted for about a block before the suspect crashed into another car near the intersection of San Fernando Road and Hubbard Street.

That's when the pursuing officer opened fire, and the suspect was killed. The suspect's identity was not immediately released. Authorities described him as being in his 50s.

It was not known why the suspect was being chased in the first place.

One of the cars at the crash site appeared to have a back window shot out. The suspect's body was seen draped with a sheet on the road.

"We have once person who is deceased at the scene. The two passengers who were in the other vehicle that is unrelated to the initial pursuit, one was transported to a local hospital and the other person is minor complaints and that's all," San Fernando Police Chief Anthony Vairo said.

Officials said the person taken to the hospital is in good condition.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who is now handling the investigation, said the suspect purposely rammed the police cruiser before the short chase occurred.

"They had spotted him and were behind him in traffic at the light over on Truman Street. And for some unknown reason the suspect reversed back into back into the officers, and that's what started the short pursuit," Lt. Victor Lewandowski with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

The Los Angeles Police Department was aiding San Fernando police when the shooting first occurred.