Osvaldo Torres, 41

Osvaldo Torres, a 41-year-old Latino, was killed during an officer-involved shooting Sunday, March 6, at Tweedy Boulevard and Burtis Street in South Gate, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

The incident started about 1 a.m. when South Gate Police officers tried to pull a car over for failing to stop at a stop sign, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza said. 

The driver of the car, later identified as Torres, drove away at a high speed, and the officers chased him, Mendoza said. 

The night was rainy, with poor driving conditions, so South Gate officers stopped the pursuit, Mendoza said. They watched the car driven by Torres continue east on Tweedy until it tried to make a right turn at Burtis, and instead ran into the concrete barrier at the Los Angeles River riverbed, Mendoza said. 

The driver and his passenger both ran south up to the bike path above the riverbed, Mendoza said. The passenger surrendered to the pursuing officers, but Torres turned on the officer who was chasing him and fired a handgun, Mendoza said. 

The officer returned fire, striking Torres in the head, Mendoza said. 

Torres was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:32 a.m., according to coroner’s records. 

No officers were injured. Investigators found a handgun they think belonged to Torres with one expended bullet in the chamber, Mendoza said. 

The sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is investigating the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.