Freq Of Nature

LA County Sheriff Deputy Murdered

LA County sheriff's deputies are searching for a 1989 black four-door Nissan, license plate # 4BCZ512.

Lieutenant Ray Peavy says it's believed that is the vehicle pulled over this morning by Sheriff's Deputy David March before he was shot and killed.

A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy shot while trying to stop a stolen car suspect Monday in Irwindale died of his wounds at a Pasadena hospital, Sheriff Lee Baca announced.

Deputy David March, 33, was shot in the chest after pulling over a stolen vehicle with three suspects in it, according to Baca.

"Deputy March attempted to identify who the driver was. The driver and Deputy March engaged in a struggle. The driver pulled a weapon and shot Deputy March point blank," Baca said.

Paramedics administered CPR to the deputy on the scene of the shooting in the 200 block of Live Oak Avenue about 10:45 a.m., said county fire Inspector Mike Brown.

March was later was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, where spokeswoman Connie Matthews said that he was in "extremely critical condition."

"He came in with a gunshot wound to the upper torso."

Deputy Alba Harrison said that details of "this terrible incident" were being pieced together by investigators at the scene, and witnesses were being sought.

Contrary to earlier reports that the suspect had been arrested, Deputy Richard Westin said in the late afternoon that several people have been detained for questioning in the case, but so far no one is in custody for the crime.

March was married and worked out of the department's Temple City station.

posted by Tracy Justus at 4/29/2002