Alleged Driver Charged With Carjacking in High-Speed Chase

A man who was shot by police after a high-speed car chase during which he allegedly held a woman at gunpoint and stole her car is facing carjacking and other charges, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Aaron Lorta was charged Wednesday in connection with carjacking, attempted carjacking and fleeing a pursuing police officer's vehicle while driving recklessly and was in custody recovering from several gunshot wounds, according to a release from the LA District Attorney's Office.

The chase began Monday when Lorta allegedly carjacked a woman after crashing another stolen car during a 45-minute rush-hour chase that began in Boyle Heights, police said.

Lorta, 29, pointed a gun at the woman before driving away in her car, prosecutors said.

"He just came up to me and pointed a gun at me ... and told me to get out of my car, and he just took off with it," Elizabeth Yarahuan said. "I was just scared he was going to hurt me."

The chase wound through downtown LA, went as far north as Lynwood, then ended in Montebello with the suspect running in lanes of the Pomona (60) Freeway.

The driver sometimes headed the wrong way through traffic and smashed into several cars. The chase ended on a street in Montebello when that car got stuck in heavy traffic.

Prosecutors say officers shot Lorta after he unsuccessfully tried to steal two other cars.

Police recovered a large semi-automatic pistol at the scene. If convicted, Lorta faces up to 27 years, 10 months in state prison, officials said.

He has a long criminal history that includes convictions for domestic battery, carrying a concealed dirk or dagger, grand theft, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted grand theft auto, theft and unlawful taking or driving of a car, and attempted robbery, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Lorta is a known gang member with history in the East LA area, police said.

It wasn't immediately known whether Lorta has a lawyer.