Man suspected of firing shots in Norwalk neighborhood being sought

NORWALK (FOX 11 / CNS) - An ``armed and dangerous'' man suspected of firing gunshots at a vacant Norwalk business was being sought Monday.

About 1 a.m., the sheriff's department received calls of shots fired in the 13300 block of Rosecrans Avenue.

``A sheriff's helicopter was quickly on scene and observed a dark colored Honda Civic matching the description of the suspect's vehicle fleeing the location,'' according to a sheriff's statement. ``The Aero unit followed the suspect's vehicle to a residence in the 14500 block of Claressa Avenue, where the suspect exited the vehicle and ran into the back yard area and into a converted garage-type residence.''

A sheriff's SWAT team was sent to the scene, along with deputies from the Norwalk, Industry, Pico Rivera, Lakewood and Compton stations. The man reportedly lives at the location.

Investigators recovered a loaded handgun from the vehicle, and the property was surrounded, authorities said. Crisis negotiators attempted to contact the man, and the SWAT team searched the property and determined about 8:50 a.m. that he was gone. A second handgun was found in a shed.

``The suspect ... has been positively identified and is considered armed and dangerous,'' the sheriff's statement said.

The suspect, whose name was withheld, was described as Hispanic, 28-30 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, and wearing a gray tank top and blue jeans. Anyone seeing him was urged to call 911.