Man Shot, Killed by Police in South Gate ID'd as Osvaldo Torres

SOUTH GATE, CA - A man who was fatally shot when he allegedly fired on South Gate police officers who had tried to pull him over for a traffic offense was identified Monday by the coroner's office.

Assistant Chief Ed Winter said the man was Osvaldo Torres, 41. He did not know the man's hometown.

South Gate police officers tried to pull over a vehicle for a traffic violation about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, but Torres sped off, prompting a pursuit, according to the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

The chase was halted due to poor driving conditions, but the suspect, heading east on Tweedy Avenue, crashed the vehicle at the eastern end of the street, next to the Los Angeles River at Burtis Street, authorities said.

Both Torres and an unidentified passenger ran from the scene, but the passenger was quickly apprehended.

Torres allegedly fired at a pursuing officer in the riverbed and was subsequently killed in an officer-involved shooting, according to sheriff's homicide detectives, who are assisting South Gate police in the investigation.

The suspect's firearm was recovered, the sheriff's department reported. No officers were injured.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock