Police Kill Chase Suspect

WOODLAND HILLS - The southbound lanes of the Ventura (101) Freeway -- one of the region's major arteries -- were reopened today after a nightlong closure prompted by an investigation into the fatal shooting of a 19- year-old Winnetka man by Los Angeles police officers at the end of a car chase.

The shooting occurred on the freeway in Woodland Hills shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday, triggering a probe by investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department's Force Investigation Division and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Until the southbound lanes were re-opened at 8 a.m., motorists were diverted at Topanga Canyon Boulevard and allowed to re-enter the southbound lanes at Winnetka Avenue, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Los Angeles police have not said whether the man who was shot and killed by officers was armed. The man's family identified him as Abdul Arian and said he was unarmed. An uncle said the young man both wanted to be a police officer and feared police, and he wondered aloud if officers could have used non-lethal force.

The man, who was suspected of reckless driving, was shot after exiting his car on the southbound 101 Freeway at the end of a chase, said Officer Gregory Baek of the LAPD's Media Relations office.

Officers from the LAPD's Devonshire Station first stopped the suspect's car around 9:50 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Plummer Street and Shirley Avenue in Northridge, said Officer Karen Rayner of LAPD Media Relations. The man sped away from the stop and drove recklessly, running red lights, before getting onto the freeway, she said.

He exited the freeway at Topanga Canyon Boulevard and re-entered on the southbound side, LAPD Lt. Andy Neiman said.

The chase ended on the freeway at Canoga Avenue with the suspect fleeing through the passenger side door of his car, which was turned sideways in the middle of lanes. A squad car was driven into the driver's side door.

 The suspect could be seen in television footage pointing at officers as he ran, but it was unclear if he had anything in his hand. Either way, the gesture was followed by police fire, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.