Police Identify Slain Suspect in South Gate Robbery and Alleged Accomplice

Police released the names Wednesday of two of the four robbery suspects who led authorities on an hourlong car chase that ended on the Golden State Freeway with the vehicle catching fire and officers killing one of the suspects.

Michael Bilderrian, 18, of East Los Angeles pointed a gun at California Highway Patrol officers and was shot, said Officer Wendy Moore, a spokeswoman for the CHP. Bilderrian was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he died.

Richard Gutierrez, 21, and two male juveniles, 15 and 17 years old, were arrested at the scene. All three are from Pico Rivera.

The incident began about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when two armed men entered a Public Storage building on Firestone Place in South Gate, taking about $2,500 and the tape from the surveillance camera.

The two fled with two others in a GMC Jimmy, followed by a witness, sheriff’s deputies and, later, California Highway Patrol officers, police said.

The chase ended just north of the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Pacoima, where the vehicle stalled and its left tire, ground to metal, sparked a fire.

The suspects remained in the car for a few seconds before three of them emerged with their hands raised.

Gutierrez, the driver, was arrested on suspicion of felony evading, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, South Gate Police Det. Ron Inman said. He is being held at the South Gate Police Department jail.

Police said they may ask the district attorney to file a murder charge against Gutierrez in the death of Bilderrian.

“Even though they didn’t intend for this guy to die ... that’s what ended up happening,” Inman said.

The two juveniles, arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, are being held at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, Inman said.

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the robbery and is joining the CHP in investigating the chase and shooting, Moore said.