Man Sentenced to Prison for Wild Pursuit That Ended With Police Gunfire

LOS ANGELES, CA - A Long Beach man who was shot by police after leading officers on a televised chase that began in Boyle Heights and ended on the Pomona (60) Freeway in Montebello was sentenced Thursday to 16 years and four months in state prison.

Aaron Lorta, 30, pleaded no contest Dec. 28 to one count each of carjacking and fleeing a pursuing police officer's vehicle.

The chase began near the intersection of North Mott and Cincinnati streets Feb. 9, 2015, when officers attempted to intercept a vehicle they suspected may have been stolen.

The chase went through downtown Los Angeles and as far south as Lynwood.

Lorta struck several vehicles, then approached a female motorist, pointed a gun at her and took her vehicle, according to prosecutors.

The pursuit, shown on live television, ended after Lorta ran into the eastbound lanes of Via Campo near Garfield Avenue in Montebello, where he was shot by officers about 45 minutes later.

Officers said they saw a gun in Lorta's hand -- which authorities said turned out to be a replica handgun -- and opened fire, striking him several times.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock