Laguna Hills, Calif. (Sep. 20, 2025): A multi-agency officer-involved shooting occurred in Laguna Hills in the early morning of Saturday, Sept. 20.
On Friday, Sept. 19, around 9:53 p.m., the Carlsbad Police Department responded to a call of shots fired in the 2300 block of Rising Glen Way. Carlsbad officers located a female with gunshot wounds and determined she was dead. The shooting victim's vehicle was stolen from the scene by the male suspect. The relationship between the victim and suspect is not known.
At 12:18 a.m., the Laguna Beach Police Department received a notification from a license plate reader at El Toro Road and Laguna Canyon Road that the vehicle was entering their city. At 12:55 a.m. officers from the Newport Beach Police Department spotted the stolen vehicle near Newport Coast and Pacific Coast Highway. The officers attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect did not stop for officers, and a pursuit began. During the pursuit, an Irvine Police K-9 unit joined to assist.
The pursuit continued to the Interstate 5 Southbound, where the suspect exited at El Toro Road. After traveling through a business complex, the suspect's vehicle exited at Regional Center and drove northbound on El Toro Road. The suspect stopped his vehicle in the lanes of traffic, just south of Avenida De La Carlota, exited his vehicle and immediately began firing at the approaching police vehicles. Multiple officers returned gunfire.
The suspect continued east towards the In-N-Out at 24001 Avenida de La Carlota, continuing to fire at officers. Multiple police vehicles were struck with bullets. After being struck by gunfire, he fell to the ground in the restaurant's parking lot and continued to fire at officers.
Once the shooting ended, officers approached the suspect and began to render medical attention. He was transported to Mission Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The identity of the suspect, who is an adult male, is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
No officers were injured during the incident.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department Homicide Unit is handling the attempted murder of the police officers. The Orange County District Attorney's Office is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has photos or videos of the incident is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or https://www.ocsheriff.gov/occrimestoppers.
###
