Officers opened fire at two locations during the two-hour pursuit of an armed man whose minivan produced a trail of sparks after its tires were destroyed by spike strips.
The chase began at about 2 a.m. near South Central Avenue and East 94th Street in South Los Angeles. Los Angeles Police Department officers noticed the subject of a domestic violence report drive past in a white Toyota minivan and began the pursuit.
Officers pursued the man through a large area of Los Angeles. Spike strips damaged the van's tires, but the driver continued on the vehicle's rims, leaving behind a trail of sparks.
During the chase, he called 911 and said he was armed and wanted to kill himself, police said. Video obtained by NBC4 shows the driver holding a gun.
Authorities confirmed later Friday morning that officers opened fire on the driver at two locations during the pursuit. The second shooting occurred at the corner of Valley Boulevard and Mountain View Road at around 4 a.m. in El Monte after the driver got out of the disabled van with a blanket over his arm.
Less-than-lethal rounds were used before "a number of officers" fired multiple rounds in the strip mall parking lot, said Lt. John Jenal, of the Los Angeles Police Department. Less-than-lethal indicates a class of weapons considered non-deadly or less likely to kill than conventional weapons.
The driver was hospitalized in critical condition. It was not immediately clear whether he exchanged gunfire with the officers.
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Fragments of glass shattered by bullets could be seen on the ground in front of a strip mall restaurant Friday morning. Several locations in the strip mall, which includes restaurants, a barber shop and other businesses, remained closed due to the investigation.
No officers were injured in the shooting.
Michael Larkin and Kevin LaBeach contributed to this report.
