A Compton man who allegedly committed two carjackings was in custody Friday after a shootout with sheriff’s deputies and a foot chase ended with him being tackled by a law enforcement dog.
Deputies from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Compton station responded to a call of a carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon Wednesday about 10 p.m. in the parking lot of a market in the 1900 block of West Rosecrans Avenue in Compton.
Deputies said that while checking the area, they spotted 18-year-old Allen Gonzalez, who fit the description of the suspect being sought in the carjacking incident, according to information released by the department. When the deputies got out of their patrol car, Gonzalez fired several rounds from a handgun, officials said.
Gonzalez fled as the deputies returned fire, and he pointed his gun at two other deputies who arrived at the scene, sheriff’s officials said.
“In fear for his life, and the life of his partner,” one of the deputies shot at Gonzalez, Sgt. Diane Hecht wrote in one report.
But Gonzalez continued running north on Parmelee Avenue and disappeared from view. A dog from the department’s canine unit eventually caught him, Hecht said.
Gonzalez was found hiding under a boat in the backyard of a residence in the 1700 block of West 138th Street. What officials believe was his weapon, described by deputies as a “large caliber semi-automatic handgun,” was recovered in the backyard in the 1600 block of West 138th Street.
Gonzalez, who was treated for a dog bite, also was wanted for an armed carjacking in Long Beach earlier Wednesday, according to Hecht’s report.
Gonzalez was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and was being held in lieu of $1 million bail, Hecht said.
Sheriff’s officials said no one was injured by the gunfire.
— Ann M. Simmons
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