Motorcyclist reportedly shot on 405 Freeway in Torrance; investigation snarls traffic
A motorcyclist who witnesses say was shot during a fight on the 405 Freeway in Torrance apparently was shot accidentally, police said.
The shooting occurred around 9:20 p.m. Friday near the corner of the 215 Freeway and the 405 Freeway, according to Sgt. Dave Baker with the Torrance Police Department. When officers arrived on scene, they saw motorcyclist Carlos Perez, 46, shot in the side. He was taken to a hospital where his condition was stabilized.
The incident happened near the exit ramp to the 215 Freeway, according to Baker.
During a press conference, police said they are doing an internal affairs investigation. Perez’s family said he was in a dispute with another rider when he got into a fight with a third person. Police said it wasn’t clear if the incident had any relationship to the shooting incident.
Authorities are not releasing the names of those involved in the incident because they wished to make an arrest, but Baker did say that the alleged shooter was the rider who was fighting with Perez.
The two other people involved in the incident were arrested and are being booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon.
“I’m thinking the driver thought that the bikers were going to beat him up,” Baker said. “He went and got into the altercation.”
Perez was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Baker said. A family member said he was in critical but stable condition, according to Baker.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and Baker said it is possible that Perez was shot by his attackers. Police have not yet determined a motive for the shooting, he said.
“We are going to run through his medical records and see if there is any evidence that could lead us to suspect that he was shot by his attackers,” Baker said. “It’s probably the best thing to do. We think we have the right people in there going through that stuff.”
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