Police fatally shoot robbery suspect after chase, crash in Orange County

Police officers in Orange County shot and killed a suspected robber after a pursuit ended with a fiery crash in La Habra early Friday morning.

The pursuit began shortly after 1 a.m. when the Fullerton Police Department located a man wanted in connection with a robbery at gunpoint in San Bernardino, officials said.

Officers tried to pull over the man’s Ford Explorer at Harbor Boulevard and West Chapman Avenue, but he fled, police said.

After the pursuit entered La Habra, the SUV crashed into a black BMW at Imperial Highway and South Beach Boulevard, causing the Explorer to flip over and burst into flames.

The man then got out of the SUV, at which point he was shot by officers an unknown number of times, authorities said. He was declared dead at the scene.

Police have not said what prompted officers to open fire, but police claim they recovered a knife at the scene.

The driver of the BMW was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

The intersection of Imperial Highway and Beach Boulevard was closed for the investigation.