A California tow truck driver remains in critical condition after being shot while responding to a roadside assistance call on a freeway, as his family appeal for support during what they describe as a desperate time.
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Jorge Arias Mayen was attending a AAA service call on the eastbound 210 Freeway near Grand Avenue in the San Gabriel Valley on 3 July when he was shot. Authorities said it is still unclear what led to the shooting.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), deputies had been looking for the driver of a Volkswagen SUV in connection with a possible assault on the tow truck driver. Mayen was struck by gunfire and suffered life-threatening injuries.
The suspected gunman fled the scene, triggering a police pursuit that ended at a petrol station near Arrow Highway and Citrus Avenue in Covina at about 3am. Officers said the driver got out of the SUV carrying a handgun, prompting a law enforcement shooting. The suspect later died in hospital.
Investigators have not released further details about the events that led to the attack, and the case remains under investigation.
