Aaron Valdez, 25

Aaron Valdez, a 25-year-old Latino, was killed in a deputy-involved shooting Wednesday, March 11, in the 3000 block of Seminole Avenue in South Gate, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Shortly before 9 p.m., South Gate police responded to a call of two Latinos attempting to steal a car in the 10400 block of Pescadero Avenue in South Gate, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

When officers arrived, they detained a man who matched the description of one of the suspects. As they were questioning the man, another man, later identified as Valdez, drove an older Toyota Camry toward the officers “at a high rate of speed.”

“That’s when an officer-involved shooting occurred,” according to the release.

After the shooting, Valdez placed the car in reverse and backed up onto the front lawn of a home near Capistrano and Seminole Avenue. Valdez was taken out of the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene at 9:22 p.m.

Deputies later confirmed that the Toyota was an unreported stolen car out of South Gate. It was later determined that the other man was not involved in the incident and was released.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz