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LOS ANGELES – A woman was shot dead when an armed man ran into a Los Angeles supermarket where dozens of people were taken hostage for about three hours Saturday before handcuffing themselves and traveling to the police. No hostages were seriously injured.
About two hours before taking hostages, police say that the man fired seven times at his grandmother and wounded another woman, which he forced to get into a car. The police pursued the vehicle and exchanged fire with the man, who crashed into a post in front of the Trader Joe's in the Silver Lake section of the city and ran to inside
glbad doors. Some in the supermarket climbed through the windows and others barricaded themselves in the rooms as dozens of police and firefighters and 18 ambulances converged on the scene and prepared for mbadive casualties
. Mirrors to look inside as hostage negotiators tried to get the man to release his 40 to 50 hostages and surrender.
At around 18:30, the man agreed to handcuff himself and went out the door, surrounded by four of the hostages. The unidentified man, who, according to the police, is about 28 years old, was immediately detained. Police said he had an arm injury
Mayor Eric Garcetti congratulated police and firefighters for their work and cried the loss of life at Trader Joe's where his wife and him were doing their shopping regularly when they lived in the neighborhood. "The heroism that was shown today was unparalleled and the teams that were able to respond, secure the perimeter and engage in conversation with the suspect have no doubt saved lives today," he said. he says, adding "our hearts go to all who have been traumatized."
Among those who survived in the afternoon, there was Don Kohles, 91 years old. He lived in the neighborhood and entered the supermarket when he saw "two police cars coming like a bat from hell" and the suspect crashed into the post.
The driver came out and the police started shooting at him. to the Joe Trader's. Kohles rushed inside and he and others went to cover when the suspect entered.
"These bullets happened right behind me while he was running in the middle aisle," said Kohles. He was terrified as he lay on the ground and others around him were sobbing.
Christian Dunlop, a real estate agent and actor who lives nearby and frequents Trader Joe, was in a corner near the store when he saw four people. A person, an employee, was dragging a wounded woman by the hands.
"She looked lifeless," says Dunlop
He then saw about five employees dragging a second-floor window and falling to the ground, and about 15 other people run to safety at the back of the store . Among them was a policeman carrying a small child, he said.
"I know all the employees, I see them all the time." Dunlop said:
Makela Wilson, 26, office manager, had finished shopping and was leaving the parking lot when the suspect hit her vehicle and that the police opened fire. "She heard three or four shots, then officers in SWAT attire arrived and ordered her, as well as to other people in their cars. , to bend down in their seats.
"Duck down! Duck down!" An officer shouted at her. She estimates that she was in the car for half an hour until the agents escorted her to the shelter. At about the same time, other officers entered the store and expelled Kolhes and other people close to him.
Police Chief Michael Moore said the suspect made a series of claims during the crisis period.
"Our hostage negotiators believed that they had established good relations with him," said the head of state.
The police are not sure what triggered the initial violence. Moore said around 1:30 pm The suspect shot his grandmother and another woman in a South Los Angeles home, then forced the other woman to enter her grandmother's car. The grandmother was in critical condition while the other woman was suffering from a grazing injury.
The police were able to track the car using LoJack – a stolen vehicle tracking system – and the police tried to arrest the suspect in Hollywood. more, said Moore. During the pursuit, the suspect opened fire on the police officers by firing through the rear window of his car.
Outside the store, the man again exchanged shots with the police. It was not clear whether she died from a police shot or was shot by the shooter. Moore said police and firefighters reacted quickly but could not save her.
Firefighters said six people, aged 12 to 81, were taken to the hospital. None of them had been shot and all were in fair condition.
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Associated Press writer Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed to this report.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This document may not be published, distributed, rewritten or redistributed.
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