A lengthy police standoff on the 91 Freeway has ended.
Cpl. Tobia Kouroubacalis from the Corona Police Department told L.A.’s Morning News it started at 8:08 a.m. and shut down both sides of the 91 for more than three hours.
“We located an armed stalking suspect driving in the area of McKinley St. and Griffin Way in Corona. Our officers attempted to stop the suspect as he was driving,” he said.
He said the pursuit went on to the 91 westbound when the suspect stopped the car east of the Lakeview exit in Anaheim. Police vehicles had the suspect’s vehicle pinned.
The suspect is dead, KNX News' Jon Baird reported from the scene. Officers reportedly saw the suspect with a self-inflicted gunshot wound on drone footage.
Baird was on a nearby roof, watching police move in. He said it looked like SWAT team members worked slowly to assess the threat level, using drones to help see what was going on inside the car, as the suspect had been seen waving a gun earlier.
At one point, they approached the vehicle after firing flash bangs into the car.
A team of approximately ten officers opened the door in the middle lanes of the westbound 91, and pulled the suspect's body out.
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Tim, one of the many drivers stuck on the freeway, described the standoff scene.
“You can still see the BearCats are there, guns are drawn still and, you know, it's just a sad situation for the gentleman,” he said. “Obviously whatever is going on with him, hopefully it ends well for him.”
Corporal Kouroubacalis added that two schools in the area – Crescent Elementary and Crescent Primary – were put on lockdown as a precaution.
CHP and Anaheim Police Department also responded to the scene.
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