1 dead, dozens of hostages released after Los Angeles stalemate



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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 on Saturday before to handcuff and surrender. to the police.

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 pole in front of the Trader Joe in the Silver Lake section of the city and ran into the store [19659007] the glass doors of the store. Some in the supermarket climbed through the windows as police, firefighters and 18 ambulances converged on the scene and prepared for massive casualties.

Heavily armed officers in riot gear stood on the side of the store Negotiators tried to get the man to release his 40 to 50 hostages and surrender.

At about 6:30 pm, about three hours after the start of the stalemate, the man agreed to handcuff himself and went out the door. 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 the Trader Joe that he and his wife were buying 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 entered the supermarket when the suspect crashed into the post and the police started firing.

He and other people hid and lay on the ground as the suspect entered the store behind me while he was running into the main alley, "said Kohles. After about 30 minutes of terror and sobs, the police went inside and chased Kolhes and other people close to him.

The hostage situation that occurred on live television began around 1:30 pm When the suspect shot his grandmother and another woman in the south of Los Angeles, then forced the other woman to get into her grandmother's car, the Los Angeles police chief, Michel Moore, said.

The police were able to track the car using LoJack – a stolen vehicle tracking system – and the police tried to stop the car in Hollywood, but the man refused to go out. stop, said Moore. During the chase, the suspect shot the police officers, firing through the rear window of his car before crashing.

Outside the store, the man again exchanged shots with the police and a woman was shot. It is not known if she died of a shot or if she was killed by the shooter.

Christian Dunlop, a real estate agent and a live actor nearby, said he was staring around when he saw four people flee in front of the store. An employee dragged a wounded woman by the hands through the front door, he said.

The suspect made a "series of demands" during the crisis period, but the crisis negotiators thought he could convince him to surrender peacefully. "Our hostage negotiators believed that they had established good relations with him," said the head of state.

At around 18:30, the suspect went out.

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.

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