Multiple suspects who used a chainsaw to rob a pharmacy ended up jumping off a bridge after being pursued by the police, leaving one of them dead.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Harbor Division officers responded to a burglary in progress call in the 200 block of East Anaheim Street in Wilmington at 4:20 a.m. Monday.
The officers arrived on scene and witnessed multiple men using a chainsaw attempting to gain entry to the pharmacy. The men quickly fled the scene in a white Mercedes and officers initiated a pursuit, LAPD Officer Eisenman said.
“The suspects’ vehicle drove off at a high rate of speed on Anaheim towards the 710 Freeway [and then proceeded] northbound on the 710,” Eisenman confirmed. “The suspects then pulled over and ran from the vehicle [to the] the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge.”
Officers reported seeing six to 10 suspects inside the vehicle; one of them was taken into custody on the bridge by the LAPD, and another was detained by assisting Long Beach Police Department officers, Eisenman stated.
Several of the other suspects jumped off the bridge into the water below, police said, adding that one of the suspects who attempted to jump as the others did hit the bridge and died.
Both lanes of the International Gateway Bridge are shut down during the investigations into the pursuit termination and subsequent death. A SigAlert lasting an unknown duration has been issued.
Whether the suspects were able to get away with anything is not known. It also remains unclear exactly how many suspects were involved and how many, if any, remain outstanding.
KTLA photojournalist Chris Gierowski contributed to this report.