Officers Fatally Shoot Fleeing Suspect After He Crashes Vehicle Into Church
WESTMINSTER (CBSLA) -- Officers with the Garden Grove Police Department fatally shot a fleeing suspect Thursday afternoon in Westminster.
The suspect crashed his Range Rover into the side of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located on Bolsa Avenue and Fleming Street.
The suspect -- who was evading authorities -- drove through a cul-de-sac before crashing. The man apparently felt trapped, went through a brick wall and then through a parking lot before crashing into the church just before 4 p.m.
There were no reports of injuries inside the church. No officers were injured.
There were many uniformed officers on scene, including several from the gang unit.
A witness told CBS2 suspect first rammed his vehicle into officers in Garden Grove.
A tow truck was seen transporting two damaged police vehicles in Garden Grove where it is alleged the suspect first rammed into police vehicles.
At the church in Westminster, security guard Henry Nalilelua said he saw the vehicle racing down the street just before it crashed.
"I got up to look and saw this white Range Rover with a black top speeding by," he says, "and two police cars chasing after it."
He said he could hear the driver of the Range Rover rev his engine.
Nalilelua said he heard "five quick gunshots" and "then I heard a loud boom." He believes the boom came from the suspect crashing through the wall and believes the officers shot the suspect before he crashed.
The suspect was declared dead at the scene.
His sister said she knew her brother had been shot and she had been looking for him all afternoon. She declined an on-camera interview with Butler.
