California

Driver Dead Following Pursuit in Long Beach

A driver died Thursday after leading officers on a pursuit and fleeing on foot in Long Beach, police said.

The pursuit began at 12:53 p.m. as the driver headed southbound on Atlantic Avenue at 59th Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A traffic violation apparently triggered the chase.

The chase ended when the suspect crashed into a brick wall at South Street and Cherry Avenue and fled on foot, CHP said.

"He was driving like he was trying to get away from something. He was going pretty fast," said witness Justin Jackson.

"I heard one shot and that was it," he said.

Another witness said he saw the man running from officers.

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"If he had a gun, it wasn't in his hand," said Ron Hart. "I don't know where it was, but he was running at full speed."

CHP conducted a search and confirmed a suspect had been dead on top of the railroad tracks that parallel Paramount Boulevard, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

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