A gunman carjacked and kidnapped a pregnant woman before exchanging gunfire with police with the victim still in her sport utility vehicle late Sunday in a neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles.
The woman told police the carjacker forced her into the passenger seat of the Toyota RAV4 at gunpoint in the Adams-Normandie area of Los Angeles. He drove south on Normandie Avenue before encountering officers who were responding to an unrelated call.
The man then opened fire, police said. It was not immediately clear whether he was firing at police.
"We don't know if he's firing at officers or within the area, but it's such a close proximity that officers perceived they were being fire upon and returned fire," said LAPD Sgt. Frank Preciado.
The woman escaped from the SUV, which was struck by gunfire, and was not injured, police said. The carjacker continued driving before running from the SUV.
No arrests were reported early Monday. It was not immediately clear whether the carjacker was struck by gunfire.
No officers were injured.
