Police Shut Down 60 Fwy After Off-Duty Deputy Shot Armed Motorist

Sheriff’s deputies closed a one-mile portion of the Pomona (60) Freeway today and walked down the road, looking for bullet casings or other clues in the shooting of an armed motorist by an off-duty deputy.

The freeway evidence sweep comes two days after a possible freeway dispute between a 25-year-old man from Maywood and a deputy, heading home from work. The motorist, Armando Gonzalez, allegedly flashed a gun at an off-duty sheriff’s deputy wearing civilian clothes in his personal vehicle.

Gonzalez was shot in his cheek by the deputy and was hospitalized with critical injuries. His side of the story has not been heard by the public, and he remains jailed for suspicion of attempted murder in lieu of a $1 million bail.

The name of the deputy has not been released.

California Highway Patrol Officer Ed Jacobs said the eastbound 60 Freeway was closed from 8:14 to 9:58 a.m. today.

“They had deputies side by side on the freeway walking from Rosemead (Boulevard) all the way to Santa Anita (Avenue),” said Jacobs. “They were looking for evidence of something — maybe shell casings.”

Today’s operation was the second time that the busy freeway, which carries more than 200,000 vehicles per day, was closed.

The original shooting was at 2:40 p.m. Friday on the eastbound 60 Freeway between Rosemead Boulevard and Peck Road. The freeway was shut down for an hour that afternoon, but reopened in time for the evening rush hour.

On Friday, Gonzalez allegedly drove his Ford Expedition up along the left side of the deputy’s car as both were heading east on the freeway. The deputy said he saw the suspect reach down as if to arm himself, and the deputy said he accelerated away from the suspect.

The Explorer again caught up along the left side of the deputy’s car, the driver pulled out a handgun and fired at the deputy, and the deputy returned fire, according to the sheriff’s department. The deputy again sped away from the suspect and ultimately pulled over near Santa Anita Avenue to use his cell phone to call for help.

While the deputy was stopped on the side of the freeway, Gonzalez reportedly pulled up behind the deputy’s car, and there was a second shooting. The suspect drove away and got off the freeway in South El Monte, as 911 operators received numerous calls from witnesses on the freeway.

Sheriff’s deputies then got phone calls reporting a man with blood on his shirt was next to a stopped car on Santa Anita Avenue, north of the freeway. A handgun was recovered from inside the suspect’s car.