Suspects Who Shot at Deputies, Police Elude Massive Manhunt

A nine-hour search, using SWAT teams and K-9 units from numerous law enforcement agencies including the FBI, was unable to locate two gunmen wanted in connection for shooting at plainclothes deputies in Pasadena.

The search began about noon Thursday and ended at 9 p.m. No deputies or officers were injured. And it was not immediately known if the two gunmen were injured or wounded during an exchange of gunfire with the deputies.

The shooting near Mar Vista Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard was reported about 12:15 p.m., said Pasadena police Lt. Jason Clawson.

“Officers responded to calls of shots and fired and what we’re able to determine is that we had our robbery investigators partnered with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department doing a joint investigation on an ongoing robbery case,” said Pasadena police Lt. Tracey Ibarra.

“While they were holding up on that and they were following with what they believe to be the potential suspects,” Ibarra said, “the suspects did have a collision with the deputy’s vehicle.”

The suspects fled the location, abandoning their vehicle, said Clawson, adding that one of the two suspects fired at the deputies. One of the deputies fired back. It was not immediately known if a suspect was struck. No deputies were injured.

Two black men ran off, and police started searching for them in an area bounded by Lake and Hill avenues, Villa Street and Orange Grove Boulevard

Both were described as 18-25, thin and wearing blue jeans; one was wearing a black T-shirt, and the other had on a gray one, said Pasadena police Lt. Thomas Delgado.

Roads were blocked off for hours. Students at Jefferson Elementary School at 1500 E. Villa St. were being released in front of the school to parents and guardians only, according to the Pasadena Unified School District.

“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Pasadena Police Department and the FBI are searching the area between Lake and Hill,” Ibarra said. “The two (suspects) currently fled in the southern border. We believe that they are still armed.”

Pasadena police asked anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of the two suspects to call them at (626) 744-4241.

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