EL MONTE – The preliminary investigation into a fatal shooting and crash Monday night leads investigators to believe the driver suffered a self-inflicted wound, homicide detectives said.

Police and firefighters responded to a crash in the 2600 block of Mountain View Road around 7:30 p.m. Officers found five injured people and one male driver with a gunshot wound. He died at the scene, according to Lt. Doug Knight of the El Monte Police Department.

The male driver was found bleeding from a head wound. A handgun was recovered inside the crashed vehicle. A female passenger exited the vehicle before the crash, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The passenger was hospitalized for injuries considered not-life threatening.

The wounded driver crashed into another vehicle occupied by four people: a pregnant mother, father and two children. All were hospitalized as well.

“Although the preliminary investigation reveals that the deceased male possibly suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound prior to the collision, it is being treated as a suspicious death investigation. The cause of death will be determined by the coroner’s office,” the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - Four people were injured and a male behind the wheel of a vehicle died after being shot around 7:30 p.m., authorities said.

Two people were hospitalized with critical injuries and two received minor injuries, according to dispatch supervisor Michael Pittman of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

County firefighters and El Monte Police officers were called to the 2600 block of Mountain View Road, Pittman told SGV CityWatch.

Although evidence suggests the male killed was driving when he was shot, investigators have yet to confirm it, according to Lt. Doug Knight of the El Monte Police Department.

“We do have one confirmed gunshot victim who has been pronounced deceased,” Knight told SGV CityWatch. “He was the driver of the vehicle.”

Mountain View Road and Elliott Avenue are closed in all directions as the investigation continues, Knight told SGV CityWatch.

What led to the shooting is not yet known.