A woman was killed Saturday during a tense, three-hour hostage situation in a Trader Joe’s store in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles that began with a car chase and gun battle, and ended with a wounded suspect handcuffing himself and surrendering to police, authorities said.
The 28-year-old suspect opened fire on police during a pursuit before 4 p.m. that began when they found him in a stolen Toyota Camry in Hollywood, police said. He crashed the vehicle into a pole outside the Trader Joe’s on Hyperion Avenue near Griffith Park Boulevard and engaged in another gun battle before running in the store.
Los Angeles Police SWAT officers escort a group of Trader Joe’s supermarket employees after a gunman had barricaded himself inside the store in Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in a standoff at the Los Angeles supermarket shot his grandmother and girlfriend and then fired at officers during a pursuit before he crashed into a utility pole outside the supermarket and ran inside the store. Hours after he took hostages in the store, the suspect surrendered.(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
An unidentified woman sits next to witnesses on a sidewalk after a gunman barricaded himself inside a Trader Joe’s store in Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in a standoff at the Los Angeles supermarket shot his grandmother and girlfriend and then fired at officers during a pursuit before he crashed into a utility pole outside the supermarket and ran inside the store. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
SoundThe gallery will resume insecondsA Los Angeles Police Department officer escorts Trader Joe’s employees to the Silver Lake Community Church, a block away from their Trader Joe’s store in Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in a standoff at the Los Angeles supermarket shot his grandmother and girlfriend and then fired at officers during a pursuit before he crashed into a utility pole outside the supermarket and ran inside the store. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
An unidentified Trader Joe’s supermarket employee, center, talks on her phone as Los Angeles Police evacuate a group of witnesses after a gunman barricaded himself inside the store in Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in a standoff at the Los Angeles supermarket shot his grandmother and girlfriend and then fired at officers during a pursuit before he crashed into a utility pole outside the supermarket and ran inside the store. About three hours after he took hostages in the store, the suspect surrendered. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Los Angeles Police SWAT officers escort a group of Trader Joe’s supermarket employees, after a gunman had barricaded himself inside the store in Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in a standoff at the Los Angeles supermarket shot his grandmother and girlfriend and then fired at officers during a pursuit before he crashed into a utility pole outside the supermarket and ran inside the store. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Police and rescue personnel set up a triage area a block away from a Trader Joe’s where a suspect has barricaded himself inside Saturday, July 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. Police believe a man involved in a standoff at the Los Angeles supermarket shot his grandmother and girlfriend and then fired at officers during a pursuit before he crashed into a utility pole outside the supermarket and ran inside the store. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
In this image from video provided by KNBC-TV, a Los Angeles Police officer carries a child as a woman runs ahead of them near a Trader Joe’s supermarket in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in the standoff with officers shot his grandmother and girlfriend before firing at officers during a pursuit, then crashing outside the supermarket and running inside the store. (KNBC-TV via AP)
Los Angeles Police SWAT officers escort a group of Trader Joe’s supermarket employees after a gunman had barricaded himself inside the store in Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in a standoff at the Los Angeles supermarket shot his grandmother and girlfriend and then fired at officers during a pursuit before he crashed into a utility pole outside the supermarket and ran inside the store. Hours after he took hostages in the store, the suspect surrendered.(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
In this image from video provided by KNBC-TV, a man with his hands up walks towards police from a Trader Joe’s supermarket in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in a standoff with officers shot his grandmother and girlfriend before firing at officers during a pursuit, then crashing outside the supermarket and running inside the store. (KNBC-TV via AP)
Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks during a news conference about the shooting incident at a Trader Joe’s supermarket in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
In this image from video provided by KNBC-TV, hostages and a suspect leave a Trader Joe’s supermarket as Los Angeles Police officers close in at right, in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. (KNBC-TV via AP)
In this image from video provided by KNBC-TV, police and civilians take cover near a Trader Joe’s supermarket in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in a standoff with officers shot his grandmother and girlfriend before firing at officers during a pursuit, then crashing outside the supermarket and running inside the store. (KNBC-TV via AP)
In this photo provided by Christian Dunlop, police officers stand guard near a crashed vehicle outside a Trader Joe’s store in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles on Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in the standoff with officers shot his grandmother and girlfriend before firing at officers during a pursuit, then crashing outside the supermarket and running inside the store. (Christian Dunlop via AP)
In this image from video provided by KNBC-TV, police officers escort a suspect away from a Trader Joe’s supermarket in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. (KNBC-TV via AP)
In this image from video provided by KNBC-TV, officers take a suspect into custody outside a Trader Joe’s supermarket in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles Saturday, July 21, 2018. (KNBC-TV via AP)
In this photo provided by Christian Dunlop, police officers use a mirror to see inside a Trader Joe’s store in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles on Saturday, July 21, 2018. Police believe a man involved in the standoff with officers shot his grandmother and girlfriend before firing at officers during a pursuit, then crashing outside the supermarket and running inside the store. (Christian Dunlop via AP)
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Hours earlier, the man shot his grandmother as many as seven times in South Los Angeles and dragged an injured woman into his grandmother’s Camry before fleeing, Police Chief Michel Moore said at a 7 p.m. news conference. The suspect’s name was not immediately released.
About a half-hour earlier, the suspect was seen walking out of the store in handcuffs with a group of hostages. The suspect asked police for the handcuffs, put them on himself and surrendered, Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
He had been on a cellphone with crisis negotiators throughout the ordeal, Moore said, adding about 40 people were believed to be in the store when the suspect entered.
The destructive and tragic consequences one person can inflict are at the forefront of our minds tonight, as is the valor & dedication of our men & women who strived to protect so many innocent people-Our thoughts, prayers & hearts are with all effected by this senseless incident pic.twitter.com/NFXrM52tm3
— Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) July 22, 2018
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The suspect at #SilverLake #TraderJoes is in #LAPD custody. Thank you to @LAPDHQ and all of our first responders for their bravery and swift action to resolve this incident.
— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) July 22, 2018
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Police late Saturday said the crime scene was still being processed and a stretch of Hyperion Avenue would remain closed until noon Sunday.
Shoppers inside, some of whom hid and barricaded themselves from the suspect, shared their accounts on social media.
I was at the Silvelake Trader Joe’s but I got out and am fine. I’m with the employees behind the police barricade on Rowena.
— Devin Field (@thatdevinfield) July 21, 2018
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Over the course of the standoff, police and SWAT officers helped some customers escape down ladders from windows and could be seen carrying children to safety.
#Breaking: Now watching people climb out the window at Trader Joe’s in #Silverlake. Heartbreaking. #cbsla @cbsla pic.twitter.com/s1BXwGcJZ3
— Peter Daut (@CBSLAPeter) July 21, 2018
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“The heroism that was shown today was second to none and the teams that were able to respond, secure the permiter and enagge in conversation with the suspect no doubt saved lives today,” Garcetti said.
Authorities did not release the name of the woman who was killed in the Trader Joe’s, pending notification of family. It was unclear how she was fatally shot.
Moore said the suspect’s grandmother was taken to a hospital, where she underwent “a series of surgeries and she’s in critical condition last we checked.”
The woman the suspect shot and kidnapped, whom police earlier identified as his girlfriend, was removed from Camry and taken to a hospital in fair condition, authorities said.
No police officers were injured and the gunman was being treated by firefighters for a gunshot wound to his left arm, Garcetti said.
Firefighters evaluated 10 patients. The woman killed inside the store was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hostages were reuniting with their loved ones at the LAPD Northeast Station. Counselors were made available to the hostages.
#LAPD Family reunification location for family members affected by the Officer Involved Shooting is at LAPD Northeast Station, 3353 N. San Fernando RD. 323-561-3211
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) July 22, 2018
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Police said the first shooting happened when the suspect got into a family dispute around 1:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of East 32nd Street in South Los Angeles.
After shooting his grandmother, the suspect then took her car and fled the shooting with his injured girlfriend inside, said Sgt. Barry Montgomery.
Officers found the Camry later in Hollywood using LoJack technology, police said. They tried to pull the vehicle over, then the suspect took off.
“He fired at police officers out the back of his car window,” Garcetti said.
At least one officer is believed to have returned fire, said LAPD Officer Mike Lopez.
President Donald Trump had tweeted about the incident, saying: “Watching Los Angeles possible hostage situation very closely. Active barricaded suspect. L.A.P.D. working with Federal Law Enforcement.”
Don Kohles, 91, was walking into the supermarket when he saw a car being chased by police crash into a pole just outside. Police fired at the driver, shattering the store’s glass doors and Kohles and others inside took cover and laid on the floor as the suspect ran into the store, he said.
He could hear others around him sobbing as the man ran toward the back of the store and yelled at people, but Kohles said he never heard any more gunshots. After about 30 minutes, police came inside and rushed some of the customers out, he said.
Officers rescued a group of children after an armed suspect opened fire and barricaded himself inside a Trader Joe’s in the Hollywood area. Live updates: https://t.co/tbjgPmD5iq pic.twitter.com/873SgyQwsj
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) July 21, 2018
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Police pulled a woman from the car that led police on a chase starting in the Hollywood area. The driver barricaded himself inside a Trader Joes’ in Silver Lake, with multiple shots being fired at the scene. Live updates: https://t.co/TxoO6jcdJA pic.twitter.com/4AXtmh735B
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) July 21, 2018
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Source: OC Register
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