A mother and her children collided head-on with a murder suspect after he began driving the wrong way on the 5 Freeway to evade police Monday.
The suspect, Artyom Gasparyan, 32, ended up getting shot by police after he jumped out of the vehicle and took off running down Freeway lanes.
The family was heading home from the first day of school after the holiday break on the northbound 5 Freeway when Gasparyan came barreling down the freewayin a silver car — going the wrong way.
The mother, who wished not to be named, said the impact was sudden and terrifying.
"The air bags went out, and it felt like a light bomb went in my car," she said. "We all couldn't hear."
She and her three children witnessed Gasparyan jump from his car after the crash.
"Next thing I know I saw him running down the freeway toward the Glenoaks off ramp," she said. "I'm yelling at someone, 'Get him!' The next thing I see the cops come with all their guns."
She saw officers drawn weapons and shoot him.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
The witness didn't see Gasparyan's gun that police said he was using to fire at officers.
"We were pretty lucky walking away," she said.
Her 13-year-old son suffered a broken collar bone. He jumped out of the car to protect his little sisters.
"He's a brave boy," she said.
Her son was fitted in a sling after leaving the hospital.
"My thought was just to keep my family safe," her son said.
The witness told officers that she was glad that they caught Gasparyan after he was linked to a series of crimes spanning Burbank, Panorama City, West Hollywood and the Carson area.
"The officers said, 'We didn't' catch him — you did,'" she said.
Gasparyan, who was in critical condition but expected to survive, was wanted for murder, attempted murder, carjacking and robbery, according to the LAPD.
