Man who died after police pursuit is identified

A driver who led authorities on a high-speed chase through South Los Angeles before crashing downtown and apparently being shot by police was identified Sunday as a 51-year-old Oceanside man.

Brian Newt Beaird was pronounced dead at California Hospital Medical Center at about 11:13 p.m. Friday, said Los Angeles coroner’s Capt. John Kades. An autopsy on the cause of death is pending, Kades said.

The pursuit began about 9:30 p.m. when L.A. County sheriff’s deputies apparently tried to stop Beaird for driving recklessly.

Beaird finally crashed his silver Corvette into another car near Olympic Boulevard and Los Angeles Street about 10:30 p.m., following an hour-long pursuit that wound through South Gate, Huntington Park and South L.A., police said.

As television news helicopters hovered, Beaird appeared to be shot several times by Los Angeles police officers as he tried to flee his banged-up car. The apparent shooting is also under investigation, said LAPD Officer Gregory Baek.

Authorities had no information on the condition of the driver of the other car

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