Tim Schultz and Chris Teagardin killed in car crash.
The victims, Timothy Schultz, 49, and Christopher Teagardin, 47, were going to get tacos, KCAL News reported, and hadknown each other for more than 30 years, per ABC7.
“They were just fantastic,” Stacy Spears told ABC7. She added that the victims' deaths were “devastating” and “senseless, senseless, senseless.”
KTLA 5 reported that the police pursuit began around 7:50 p.m. local time followinga report of a stolen truckat 7:35 p.m. local time. Los Angeles Police Department officers attempted to pull over the driver, later identified as Oscar Delacruz, 32, when he drove away.
Tragically, during the subsequent chase, the truck struck a silver Honda Civic containing Schultz and Teagardin in Panorama City, California multiple outlets reported.
One victim was pronounced dead at the scene while the other died on the way to the hospital, LAPD Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters, per KCAL News.
After the crash, both Delacruz and a passenger in the truck fled on foot but were caught, with one suspect injured “during a use of force takedown” involving the use of a Taser, Hamilton told reporters Wednesday, per KCAL News.
A third person traveling in the truck, a woman, was also pulled from the wreckage and transported to a hospital in an unknown condition, authorities said, added ABC7.
“This is a very tragic incident,” Hamilton told reporters after the incident, reported multiple outlets. “We try to conduct these instances where we go in pursuit as safely as possible with all the tools that we have. That’s why we request an air unit right away. That’s why we look at going to tracking mode as soon as we can. But at the same time we have to balance that with a community member who has requested the police department to respond because their vehicle is being stolen.”
Christopher Teagardin.Facebook
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ABC7 reported that Delacruz had been wanted on a felony warrant prior to the incident and was being held without bail.
“He’s being charged with murder in regards to this matter, and we’ll work with the district attorney’s office on the further details of this case,” LAPD Chief Michel Moore said about Delacruz, per ABC7.
“Sadly and tragically, two individuals — one, the driver who we later found to be wanted for a no-bail felony warrant — callously drove into an intersection at a high speed and T-boned two innocent motorists in a vehicle,” Moore continued.
source: people.com
