Avel Turks: Suspected Driver Charged in Rolling Gun Battle, Attempted Murder of Police

An 18-year-old man found hiding in a dumpster following Monday’s police pursuit that turned into a
rolling gun battle was charged today with multiple counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, using
assault rifles on police and drug possession, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
announced.

Avel Jowan Turks was scheduled to be arraigned after 1:30 p.m. at the Foltz Criminal Justice
Center in Department 30.

Prosecutors will ask that his bail be set at $4.1 million.

Turks is charged in case BA428444 with 15 felony counts, including six counts of attempted murder of
a peace officer, six counts of using an assault weapon on a peace officer, and one count each of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, evading police and possession for sale of cocaine base. The complaint includes gun and gang allegations.

The Crimes Against Peace Officers Unit is prosecuting the case.

Turks is the suspected driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe that led police on a high speed chase that turned into a moving gun battle and ended after an LAPD officer was seriously wounded and one suspect was
fatally shot.

The pursuit began after 2 a.m. Monday when police tried to pull over the SUV’s driver near Florence
Avenue and Figueroa Street.

The driver instead took off on the northbound Harbor Freeway. Shots were fired at police during the
chase and later when the SUV crashed. After two men bolted from the SUV, one engaged in a gun battle
with police and was fatally shot. Turks was later arrested.

If convicted, he faces up to life in state prison.