Deputies Shoot and Kill Possible Grand Theft Auto Suspect in East LA

An investigation was underway after a deputy opened fire and killed a man at a traffic stop Sunday morning in East Los Angeles after police were investigating a report of a possible stolen vehicle, officials said.

The shooting was reported just before 4 a.m. near the intersection of Ferris Avenue and Whittier Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies were conducting a traffic stop to investigate a possible stolen minivan with three people inside, and encountered a "combative" passenger, LASD said in a press release.

During the struggle, deputies became aware that the suspect was armed and was attempting to retrieve his weapon. After the man refused to comply orders, deputies opened fire.

Residents who lived down the street from the shooting said they heard multiple gunshots Sunday morning.

Lorenza Sifuentes, a nearby resident, said her neighbor heard a woman screaming and yelling.

The suspect, a 29-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

No deputies were injured during the shooting.

A .22-caliber revolver was recovered at the scene and two additional occupants, a man and a woman, in the vehicle were detained, LASD said.

The male passenger was arrested on unrelated charges, and the woman was let go, investigators said.

Whittier Boulevard was closed down while detectives investigated the scene.

Angie Lopez, who lives down the street from the shooting, said she's seen a rise in car thefts in her neighborhood in the past few weeks.

A black car without license plates was found in a parking lot on Whittier Boulevard and on the other side of Ferris Avenue. It is unknown whether the car had anything to do with the suspects in the shooting.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323- 890-5500.

Jane Yamamoto contributed to this report.