A high-speed chase in Northern Los Angeles on August 9th escalated into a dramatic scene involving back-to-back officer-involved shootings, multiple crashes, and a SWAT standoff. The incident, captured on video, unfolded after a man allegedly stole a city vehicle, leading officers on an hours-long pursuit.
The chaos began around 5:30 PM with multiple emergency calls reporting a hit-and-run. Callers identified the suspect vehicle as a Department of Water and Power (DWP) SUV, with one witness describing the driver as a shirtless man.
A white SUV crashed into a building
Concerns grew as additional calls described the driver as erratic and possibly intoxicated. One frantic call reported the DWP truck crashing into a house, injuring the resident.
Authorities confirmed the DWP vehicle was stolen, identifying the suspect as 28-year-old Manuel Ramirez. LAPD officers located Ramirez, who was initially stopped. However, he sped away, running a stop sign and a red light as he fled.
The pursuit continued onto the freeway, with Ramirez driving on the wrong side of the road as officers pursued him. Dashcam and body camera footage captured the chase, showing Ramirez exiting the freeway and entering a business parking lot.
Police car dashcam footage of a car chase
Finding himself trapped, Ramirez rammed through a closed gate, only to turn around and drive back towards the officers. In a desperate attempt to escape, he crashed into multiple LAPD squad cars.
Multiple police cars with damage
As Ramirez’s vehicle briefly became disabled after colliding with another van, officers approached, urging him to surrender. However, the SUV suddenly roared back to life. Ramirez drove towards the officers, prompting them to open fire.
The intense moments were recorded from various angles, capturing the back-to-back officer-involved shootings. Ramirez continued to evade capture, crashing into more patrol cars before his vehicle finally came to a stop. A SWAT team arrived, securing the scene and apprehending Ramirez.
Police cars with significant damage from a car chase
Medical personnel treated Ramirez for a fractured leg and gunshot wounds before transporting him to the hospital. Following his release, he faces eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. The officer-involved shootings remain under investigation.
