Suspect Killed After Police Chase Near LAX Closes Northbound 405 Lanes

A cab driver's call for help ended with a gunfight on the freeway and traffic chaos for thousands of drivers

An armed robbery suspect is dead after a police chase onto the 405 Freeway near LAX shut down northbound lanes for hours on Friday.

We trust our morning commutes to be boring. But early Friday, a single desperate act turned one of America's busiest highways into a deadly crime scene.

What Happened

It started around 4:15 a.m. in Los Angeles. A Yellow Cab driver reported being robbed at gunpoint on Manchester Boulevard. The driver pointed police to a man sitting in a nearby black Kia Soul.

When officers approached, the driver sped off. The chase headed onto the northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway near LAX.

During the chase, police say the driver shot at them. He then stopped his car, got out with a handgun, and refused to drop it. Officers opened fire, hitting the suspect, who later died at a hospital.

What the evidence shows

• 1 handgun recovered from the freeway scene.
• 0 injuries reported for officers or the cab driver.
• 1 suspect pronounced dead at a local hospital.
• 6 hours or more of northbound freeway closures near Howard Hughes Parkway.
• 4:15 a.m. was the time of the initial emergency call.

The Bigger Question

How do police balance public safety during a high-speed chase with the massive risk of a shootout on a major freeway? High-speed pursuits often end in crashes or violence. We must ask if there are safer ways to track suspects in the digital age.

What Happens Now

Detectives are looking into the shooting, which is standard when officers use deadly force. Commuters and travelers heading to LAX faced hours of delays as lanes remained closed through the morning.

What We Still Don't Know

1. Why did the suspect rob a cab driver and flee in a different car?
2. How many shots did the suspect and the officers fire?
3. Who was the suspect, and did he have a history of violent crime?