The suspect drove with abandonment, sometimes going against traffic, and collided with other vehicles at least four times.
When he crashed on Imperial Highway near the Long Beach (710) Freeway in South Gate, he took a Volkswagen from a woman at gunpoint.
The suspect was captured in Montebello when he crashed the Volkswagen and tried to take another car at gunpoint from a woman on the Pomona (60) Freeway.
Elizabeth Yarahuan, the 22-year-old whose car was taken from her at gunpoint in South Gate, said "He just came up to me and pointed a gun at me and told me to get out of my car, and he just took off with it.''
Still visibly upset, she told reporters, "He was pointing the gun at me so I just got out of the car and ran. I was just scared he was going to hurt me.''
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Sgt. Frank Preciado of the Los Angeles Police Department, which is investigating the chase, said Yarahuan did the right thing.
"Anytime that you're confronted with someone that is armed, be it a knife, be it a sharp object or a gun, and they want to take your property, be it a purse or vehicle, it's not worth losing your life over property," Preciado said.
Los Angeles police Officer Rosario Herrera said it was not clear what time the pursuit began or exactly where, but it was handled by the Hollenbeck Division, which deals with the eastern part of the city.
The California Highway Patrol was notified of the chase at 5:37 p.m. The suspect was taken into custody about 6 p.m.
The chase reportedly began in Boyle Heights at about 5 p.m., apparently with the suspect stealing a gray Toyota Camry.
He was taken into custody on the Pomona (60) Freeway near the Findlay Avenue off-ramp in Montebello where he again had crashed.
While trying to flee on foot he was shot by officers and taken to a hospital by ambulance, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Police also recovered a large semi-automatic pistol at the scene. ?