LOS ANGELES—Authorities Friday continued their efforts to find suspects involved in a fatal car-to-car, road rage shooting on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in the Boyle Heights area that triggered a freeway closure and snarled traffic during the Thursday evening rush hour.
The shooting was reported on the northbound freeway north of Grande Vista Avenue around 4:10 p.m. Thursday, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
“Preliminary investigation suggests a gold Cadillac sedan and possibly a dark colored Sport Utility Vehicle were involved in a road rage incident,” the CHP said in a statement Friday morning.
“The involved vehicles were seen chasing each other, prior to the Cadillac rear-ending an uninvolved vehicle. At this time, two ... male adults were [seen] exiting the SUV with weapons, and opened fire on the Cadillac’s occupants,” the CHP statement said. “The driver of the Cadillac was able to make a U-turn and drove wrong way on Interstate 5, traveling southbound in the northbound traffic lanes. Both occupants of the Cadillac sustained gunshot wounds and the passenger succumbed to his injuries on scene. The driver was transported to a local hospital for treatment.”
Information was not immediately available on the identity of the fatally wounded man.
“This incident is still under investigation by the California Highway Patrol Southern Division Major Crimes Unit. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the California Highway Patrol, Traffic Management Center, at 323-259-3200,” the CHP statement said. “The California Highway Patrol, sends its condolences to the family members of the individual lost in this senseless tragedy.”
According to earlier reports, a Dodge Durango and a gold Cadillac sedan were driving in the northbound lanes of the freeway when the Cadillac rear ended another vehicle. Two men then exited the Durango and began shooting at the two men inside Cadillac.
All northbound lanes of the freeway were closed at the shooting scene after the CHP issued a SigAlert, causing a miles-long backup throughout the afternoon rush hour. All lanes of the freeway re-opened around 12:20 a.m. Friday, the CHP reported.
