RSM Man Who Killed Woman For Her Car Dies In Shootout In Front Of In-N-Out

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — A murder suspect from Rancho Santa Margarita was shot and killed by police officers in a shootout outside of a Laguna Hills In-N-Out early Saturday morning.

The chain of events started at 9:53 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 when officers with the Carlsbad Police Department responded to a report of gunfire in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 2300 block of Rising Glen Way, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Responding officers found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The suspect, 31-year-old Andre Anthony Matijasevic, stole the victim's car during the shooting.

At 12:18 a.m., the Laguna Beach Police Department received a notification from a license plate reader at El Toro Road and Laguna Canyon Road that the car was passing through city limits.

At 12:55 a.m., the vehicle was spotted near Newport Coast and Pacific Coast Highway by the Newport Beach Police Department.

A news release authored by the Newport Beach Police Department detailed the chain of events:

When Newport Beach officers attempted to stop the car and the car did not yield, a pursuit began — continuing onto the Interstate 5 Freeway southbound, where the suspect exited at El Toro Road.

"The suspect stopped his vehicle in the lanes of traffic, just south of Avenida De La Carlota, exited his vehicle and immediately began firing at the approaching police vehicles," according to the news release. "Multiple officers returned gunfire."

Matijasevic led police to the In-N-Out at 24001 Avenida De La Carlota, exited his vehicle and immediately began firing at the approaching officers, police said.

Several police vehicles were struck by bullets, though no officers reported injuries.

"After being struck by gunfire, [the suspect] fell to the ground in the restaurant's parking lot and continued to fire at officers," the release said.

Matijasevic was taken to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Anyone who witnessed what happened or has photos or videos is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or ocsheriff.gov/occrimestoppers.