A reward of $10,000 is being offered for information leading to a Hawthorne man who allegedly shot at two Redondo Beach Police Department officers.
Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department held a press conference on Tuesday to announce the reward from the city of Redondo Beach in the search for Lester Yohan Castro, 35.
According to authorities, Castro was stopped while riding a motorcycle in the 12800 block of Prairie Avenue on Feb. 21, then fled on foot, prompting officers to give chase.
“The officers followed Castro to the 12900 block of Roselle Avenue, where Castro produced a handgun and fired several rounds at the officers,” officials said. “One of the officers returned fire.”
Castro then fled into neighboring backyards and, despite a police perimeter, managed to get away, authorities said.
“I am grateful that the violent act against two Redondo Beach Police Department officers did not add to the list of fallen officers,” RBPD Chief Joe Hoffman said.
Authorities said Castro is known to frequent Hawthorne and the unincorporated area of Lennox.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
