VIDEO: Los Angeles police chase ends in deadly crash, 1 arrested

One driver was killed and another was arrested after a high-speed police chase ended in a deadly crash in South Los Angeles on May 23, video footage released by the Los Angeles Police Department on July 7 shows. The chase began around 8:50 p.m. when officers saw a white Tesla sedan driving recklessly near the intersection of Figueroa at 61st streets. Officers initially called off the chase after the Tesla continued on city streets at dangerous speeds. “Due to the speed of the Tesla, officers lost sight of the vehicle and terminated the one-minute pursuit,” LAPD said. “As officers were monitoring the area, it appeared the Tesla crashed into a bicyclist. Officers stopped to render aid, but the cyclist was uncooperative and left the area.” A second team of officers resumed the chase seconds later after the Tesla sped by them heading west on Slauson Avenue near Vermont Avenue. Less than a minute into the resumed chase, the Tesla driver crashed into a white Mercedes-Benz performing a left-hand turn, video of the crash provided by LAPD shows. The Tesla driver, identified as 23-year-old Los Angeles man Tamajai Dampeer, attempted to escape from officers on foot following the crash. Officers caught up with the man in an alleyway and placed him in handcuffs, police body cam footage shows. Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department provided emergency medical care to the driver of the Mercedes-Benz, who police identified as 63-year-old Idrees Da Oud Mahmud. However, Mahmud was pronounced dead at the scene. Dampeer was arrested for felony evading causing death. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office charged him with one count of vehicular manslaughter, one county of felony evading causing death and one count of felony hit and run. Watch video of the car chase, the ensuing crash and Dampeer’s arrest in the LAPD report embedded at the top of this story. Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact MCIT Detective Chang Kim at 213-486-0690.