Homicide investigation jams traffic on Foothill, Glendale freeways
A motorcyclist was shot and killed this morning, leading to the closures of connecting roads and an onramp as authorities investigate. Surrounding surface streets are also clogged.
There were major traffic delays today on surface streets around the Foothill and Glendale freeways as authorities investigated the shooting death of a motorcyclist.
Authorities closed two connector roads linking the freeways and an onramp following the 3:20 a.m. shooting, forcing commuters to detour onto jammed surface streets.
Detectives were trying to determine whether the unidentified motorcyclist, who is believed to be in his 30s, was part of a biker gang. Investigators were interviewing witnesses, including another motorcyclist who was riding with the victim at the time of the shooting, said Sgt. Tom Lorenz of the Glendale Police Department.
"We don't know if he was targeted, whether it was random or a case of road-rage," Lorenz said
The victim was found with a gunshot wound, but Lorenz said it was too soon to say whether he died from the shooting or from crashing his bike into the median of the Glendale Freeway, just south of the Foothill Freeway.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's office is at the scene, along with homicide and forensics officers.
The connector roads from the eastbound Foothill Freeway to the southbound Glendale Freeway and the westbound Foothill to the southbound Glendale are both closed, along with the onramp to the southbound Glendale, said Officer Anthony Martin of the California Highway Patrol.
Another motorcyclist was killed this morning in a collision with a vehicle on the southbound Long Beach Freeway in the Compton area near Alondra Boulevard. The incident was reported at about 5 a.m., Martin said. Three southbound lanes were closed, causing major backups. The roadway was cleared at 8 a.m.
alexandra.zavis@latimes.com
