EL MONTE, CA – An investigation is underway following a fatal officer-involved shooting in El Monte, California, where a male suspect was shot and killed by police officers. The incident occurred late Tuesday night outside a Chase Bank on Tyler Avenue and Valley Boulevard, transforming the typically quiet downtown area into a scene of intense police activity.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide detectives, who are assisting the El Monte Police Department with the investigation, the suspect was initially spotted at a Target store on Peck Road. Employees there reported a theft involving the suspect and a female companion at around 8:45 p.m. When the man returned to the store after being turned away, he allegedly brandished a firearm and quickly fled the scene.
Police were alerted and provided with descriptions of both the suspect and his vehicle, a dark-colored Chevy Malibu. Officers soon located the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the suspect refused to pull over, leading to a brief pursuit that ended near the Chase Bank.
Upon reaching the bank, the suspect exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. Two officers pursued him, and during the chase, one officer discharged their weapon, fatally wounding the suspect. The man, described as being in his late 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators later recovered a gun in his possession, though it remains unclear if he fired the weapon during the incident.
The female suspect, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was detained by the authorities. She is reportedly cooperating with the investigation, although her relationship with the deceased suspect has not been disclosed.
As the investigation continues, the area remains cordoned off with yellow police tape, and a tow truck has arrived to remove the suspect’s vehicle from the scene. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward as they work to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting.
The community of El Monte is left grappling with the aftermath of the incident, as residents express concerns over public safety and the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The police department is expected to release further details as the investigation progresses.