Freeway Shooting Victim: 'I Noticed Blood Trickling Down'
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The victim of Monday's shooting on the 91 freeway, who pursued his assailant until California Highway Patrol officers could arrive, spoke with CBS2 on Tuesday to describe the ordeal.
Shooting victim Ken Baker was transitioning from the I-5 to the 91 freeway Monday when another driver pulled a gun and began firing at him.
Bullets shattered the driver's-side window of Baker's vehicle, causing glass to burst into his face.
Baker then gave chase.
"It blew up in my face; I didn't know what happened," Baker recalled. "And I pursued the guy, and I got as far as probably Harbor Boulevard, and I noticed blood trickling down to my chest, and I realized possibly I'd been shot."
Baker's left arm was hit by three bullets, one of which also entered his chest through his ribcage.
Police Tuesday identified the suspected in the shooting as Jerry Valentin, 32, of Scottsdale, Ariz.
While Baker says he had never seen the man before, he did get a look at his weapon.
"I looked over and saw a man pointing something at me; it was two lanes over," Baker said. "And I went in pursuit of the man from speeds from 65 to 95 (mph)."
Baker, a truck driver by trade, never let Valentin's vehicle out of his sight during his pursuit, despite Valentin weaving through traffic to get away.
During the pursuit, Baker contacted a 911 dispatcher and relayed the details. CHP cruisers then sped to the 91 freeway, stopped Valentin and put him in handcuffs as Baker was wheeled to a hospital.
"If I had let the man go, I would have never seen him again," Baker stated. "I do not want anybody going out and shooting people that are innocent."
Valentin, who is reportedly an artist, has been booked on suspicion of attempted murder and is due in court Wednesday.
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