HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – A dramatic series of events unfolded Monday morning, beginning with an attempted murder at a local business and culminating in a fatal officer-involved shooting. Authorities have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Less Cerro San Pedro Castro from Baldwin Park.
The incident began around 7:15 a.m. at California Closets on Skylab Road. Multiple gunshots were reported, sending employees scrambling for safety and causing alarm among nearby businesses. Witnesses described a scene of chaos as people fled the area.
Police said a woman in a dark gray sedan opened fire on a man at the business before escaping. Officials confirmed that the shooting was not random but an isolated incident, reassuring the public that there was no ongoing threat. The injured man was transported to UCLA Medical Center and is expected to survive.
Approximately two hours later, and 25 miles away in South Gate, police identified the suspect’s vehicle. Officers from the South Gate Police Department located the sedan, which had been flagged for a felony by Huntington Beach authorities.
At around 9:30 a.m., South Gate officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle near San Carlos and Firestone. According to the LA County Sheriff’s officials, the situation escalated when the female suspect brandished a handgun as officers approached.
An officer-involved shooting ensued, and the suspect was struck by gunfire. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The investigation is ongoing, and police have yet to disclose how the suspect and the victim were connected or if they were colleagues at California Closets.
California Closets has stated that their immediate concern is the well-being of their team members, and they have decided to temporarily close the store location to focus on providing support.