Suspect killed after going on violent crime spree in downtown LA; hostage rescued

Possible hostage situation under investigation at DTLA high-rise building

A possible hostage situation is under investigation at a downtown Los Angeles high-rise building.

LOS ANGELES - A suspect, who took a woman hostage, was shot and killed after going on a violent crime spree in downtown LA Friday evening.

Part of the hostage situation was caught on video.

Just after 4 p.m. the Los Angeles Police Department began receiving calls of a man armed with a gun in the area of 8th and Broadway.

According to police, the suspect – later identified as 45-year-old Rudy Anderson – randomly approached a man on the sidewalk, pulled out a gun, pointed it to the man’s face and pulled the trigger. Fortunately, the gun did not fire.

Police say after that incident, Anderson went into a business in the 700 block of Broadway. Three family members were inside the businesses including a 14-year-old boy. Anderson pointed a gun at the group and opened fired…causing one of the bullets to graze the side of the teen’s head.

Following that crime, Anderson then made his way to the area of 6th and Spring where he attempted to carjack a woman, police said in a statement Friday. The suspect’s attempt was unsuccessful and he fled up the street to the intersection of 7th and Spring where he later got into a confrontation with a man on his bike.

At this point, security officers in the area flagged down officers. Once officers attempted to make contact with the suspect he fled and ran into an apartment complex on 6th and Main. Anderson had barricaded himself inside one of the units with a hostage.

Chilling images shared by social media user, @_teddybomber, showed a person with a white shirt dragging another person across the room in the high-rise building before gunshots and loud booms were heard.

From the video, it appears to show the suspect pointing a gun at the hostage and pacing around the room.

Officers requested backup from SWAT teams and K9. Through the window, LAPD officers saw Anderson pointing a gun to the hostage’s head and quickly took action fearing the worst.

Officers then opened fire, killing Anderson on scene.

The hostage was taken to the hospital as was the 14-year-old who was grazed by a bullet.

The suspect's gun was recovered at the scene. It is unknown what prompted Anderson to go on the crime spree.

Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.

Tune in to FOX 11 Los Angeles for the latest Southern California news.