A man fleeing police in a stolen vehicle is dead after the multiple-city pursuit ended in a confrontation, according to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD).
On April 25, around 5:55am, officers were in the area of Paramount and Artesia boulevards when they received a Lo-Jack hit on a vehicle stolen out of Los Angeles. Officers were able to locate the stolen vehicle, a green 2000 Honda Accord, but before they could attempt to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, and a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit went on for approximately 50 minutes and travelled through multiple cities. During the pursuit, the driver travelled erratically and at high rates of speed, according to police. At one point during the pursuit, a handgun was thrown out of the vehicle and recovered in the area of Lakewood Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue.
As the driver continued to flee, he entered a dead-end street in the city of Bellflower. He made a U-turn then drove towards the officers, at which point an officer-involved shooting occurred, resulting in the male driver being struck by gunfire. Once the suspect was removed from the vehicle, officers performed life-saving measures until LA County Fire personnel arrived and took over. They then determined the suspect deceased at the scene after administering additional medical aid. No officers were injured.
A second male adult suspect who was the passenger in the vehicle was not injured and was taken into custody.
Homicide detectives responded and are conducting their investigation. The LA County District Attorney’s office also responded and will conduct an independent investigation as they do in all officer-involved shootings that result in injury.
The suspect who was driving has been identified as Juan Manuel Avilla, a 20-year-old resident of Paramount.
The second suspect/passenger has been identified as 20-year-old David Anthony Luera of Paramount. He has been booked into the Long Beach Jail for ex-felon in possession of a firearm and being in possession of a stolen vehicle. He is being held on $35,000 bail.
Those with information regarding the incident are urged to contact homicide detectives at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to a smart phone or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.
Source: LBPD
