Los Angeles stalemate Trader Joe leaves 1 dead, an armed man in detention

LOS ANGELES – A woman was shot dead when an armed man ran into a busy Los Angeles supermarket where he held dozens of people hostage for three hours before handcuffing himself and going 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 chased 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

glass doors. Some in the supermarket climbed through the windows and others barricaded themselves in the rooms as many police and firefighters and 18 ambulances converged on the scene and prepared for massive casualties.

Heavily armed officers in riot gear mirrors to look inward as hostage negotiators tried to get the man to release his 40 to 50 hostages and to to 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 those who have"

Don Kohles, 91, survived this heartbreaking afternoon 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 Trader Joe's Kohles rushed inside and he and others went to cover when the suspect entered.

"These bullets happened right behind me while he was there. was running in the main alley, "said Kohles.He was terrified while he lay on the ground and others around him his

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 seemed lifeless," says Dunlop.

He then saw about five employees drag a second floor window and fall to the ground, and about 15 other people run to the security of 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, my heart was pounding and thinking of all the endless possibilities," said Dunlop. Makela Wilson, 26, a bureau chief, had finished shopping and was leaving the parking lot when the suspect hit his vehicle and the police opened fire. She heard three or four shots, then officers in SWAT dress arrived and ordered her, as well as other people in their cars, to bend down in their seats.

"Duck down! an officer shouted at him. 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 police officers entered the store and expelled Kolhes and others near him.

Police Chief Michel Moore said the suspect made a series of requests during the crisis period. "

" Our hostage negotiators believed that they had established good relations with him, "said the chief.

The police are not sure what caused the initial violence that produced the lawsuit and stalemate. 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 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. to stop, said Moore. During the pursuit, the suspect fired on the police and shot through the rear window of his car.

Outside the store, the man again exchanged shots with the police and the woman was shot. 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 had been shot and all were in fair condition.