BELLFLOWER - A Sheriff's deputy shot and critically wounded a man who allegedly led authorities on a foot chase before firing a gun at deputies in Bellflower.Deputies from the Lakewood Sheriff's Station responded to a call Wednesday afternoon regarding a suspicious person looking inside of vehicles. When deputies arrived, they observed a male Hispanic matching the description of the suspicious person, authorities said. The suspect ran when deputies attempted to make contact with him. "After a short distance the suspect crouched down, retrieved a firearm from his waistband, and shot at the deputies, missing them," Sheriff's officials said in a statement. "The deputies returned fire, striking the suspect several times." The suspect was taken to a local hospital where he was listed in critical condition as of Thursday morning. The shooting took place on the 8800 block of Oak Street in Bellflower.

********** Published: December 29, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 37