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Carlos Lopez-Melendez

Age : 50

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 04/27/2021

Location : 91 Freeway near Brookhurst Street

City : Fullerton

County : Orange

State : California

Agency : Los Angeles Police Department

Officer(s) :James Brown

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during SWAT standoff following police pursuit

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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REASON FOR CHASE: Multiple drive-by shootings and two homicides
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NARRATIVE:
On 04/27/2021 shortly before 1:00 a.m., Carlos Lopez-Melendez, 49, allegedly began a series of apparently random shootings from a white Jeep Cherokee in Los Angeles. A driver near Figueroa Street and Exposition Boulevard was shot and survived. About 10 minutes later, Lopez-Melendez allegedly shot and killed 24-year-old Alexis Carbajal as Carbajal sat with his wife in a Starbucks drive-through near Figueroa and 28th streets. Minutes later, 42-year-old Uber driver Mingzhi Zhu was shot and killed in his Cadillac Escalade near Figueroa and 7th streets while on his way to pick up a passenger.
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At approximately 1:24 a.m., LAPD Transit Services Division officers near Washington Boulevard and Maple Avenue heard gunfire and saw the Jeep leaving at high speed. Officers followed and reported seeing Lopez-Melendez fire into a white Tesla. Police broadcast an emergency call and initiated a pursuit as additional units and an LAPD helicopter joined.
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The pursuit continued for nearly three hours over several Southern California freeways. Police alleged Lopez-Melendez fired from the Jeep during the pursuit. California Highway Patrol officers eventually deployed spike strips, flattening three tires. Lopez-Melendez continued driving until the Jeep became disabled on the westbound 91 Freeway at the Raymond Avenue overpass in Fullerton at approximately 3:20 a.m.
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LAPD SWAT responded and armored vehicles boxed in the Jeep. Police attempted to negotiate with Lopez-Melendez, including an unsuccessful attempt to have a family member speak to him. Officers also deployed flashbangs and tear gas. Police said Lopez-Melendez eventually fired through the Jeep's windshield at SWAT officers.
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LAPD SWAT Officer James Brown returned fire. Police said Lopez-Melendez fired again and Brown fired additional rounds, striking him multiple times. Lopez-Melendez was pronounced dead at the scene. Police recovered a handgun from the Jeep.
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Investigators later searched Lopez-Melendez's home and found additional firearms, including an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. Police investigated whether racial hatred played a role because two of the people targeted were Asian, but officials initially described the shootings as apparently random and did not establish a motive.
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LAPD's Force Investigation Division investigated the fatal shooting, with the Office of the Inspector General monitoring the investigation. The case was also subject to review by the police chief, Board of Police Commissioners and Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Police Officer III James Brown, serial number 31342, assigned to LAPD Metropolitan Division, was publicly identified by LAPD as the SWAT officer who shot Lopez-Melendez.

SOURCE LINKS :

• https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/fullerton-suspect-in-fatal-la-killing-spree-shootout-id-carlos-lopez/
• https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/shootings-uber-starbucks-exposition-park-downtown-la-91-freeway-standoff-pursuit-chase/2582485/
• https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/southern-california/public-safety/2021/04/27/shooting-suspect-wounded-in-standoff-on-91-freeway-in-fullerton