A cop car thief was shot dead by southern California officers following a high-speed chase through Los Angeles County, authorities said.
The suspect managed to get his hands on a black-and-white police cruiser from West Covina Police Department at around 9:45 p.m. Sunday. He flipped on the emergency lights and led officers on a 40-minute pursuit through busy streets and highways spanning about 25 miles.
The runaway driver clocked in speeds of about 100 mph before he found himself cornered in a Glendale alleyway, according to KNBC-TV
Another cruiser t-boned the vehicle, pinning it against a dumpster to end the chase.
The officers approached the driver with their guns drawn and opened fire, killing the suspect.
It’s unclear how the suspect stole the cruiser, what caused the shooting or if the suspect was armed.
The suspect was not immediately identified.
A television station helicopter hovering over crime scene captured what appears to be a tarp covering the stolen vehicle.
The televised chase was also live-tweeted by the Los Angeles Kings hockey mascot.
“No gunshots is the best thing that can happen,” the mascot known as “Bailey” tweeted shortly before the suspect was gunned down.
