PALMDALE, Calif. (AP) — A man attempting to steal a catalytic converter from a parked SUV in Southern California was run over and killed when the vehicle’s sleeping driver awakened and started to drive away, authorities said.
The death occurred Tuesday evening in a retail parking lot in Palmdale, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.
Arriving deputies found a Ford Excursion partially backed out of a parking stall, a man lying on the ground and a smaller vehicle in the next parking stall.
The department said the Excursion driver was asleep when the smaller vehicle pulled up and one of the four people inside got out and began sawing the catalytic converter off the Ford.
“The victim woke up from the sound, turned the car on, put the vehicle in reverse, and felt a bump like she ran something over,” the department said. “She stopped immediately, leaving the suspect on the ground after running him over.”
The driver then called 911 to get medical help for the suspect.
The suspect was pronounced dead at a hospital. The other three people in the smaller vehicle were detained. No names were released.
Palmdale is in the high desert Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles.
-
Hancock County honors Black businessman who broke barriers in the 1860s
A historical marker will soon be installed in downtown Greenfield to honor George Knox, a prominent Black businessman whose legacy has shaped Hancock County and the state of Indiana.
AES Indiana's parent company agrees to be sold, will go private
The parent company of AES Indiana is being sold to a group of private investors. Locally, the company says customers shouldn't expect major changes.
Woman dies after being shot on Indy's near southwest side
A woman is dead after she was shot early Monday morning on Indianapolis' near southwest side, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
6 US service members killed as Iran conflict intensifies
At least four American soldiers have died as the war in the Middle East intensified over the weekend and Iran and its proxy forces launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and Arab states.
