Shootout at FIGat7th Shopping Mall in Downtown LA
Standoff with Suspect Underway
Los Angeles police said Tuesday they have been in an hours-long standoff with the man suspected of shooting a security guard and a store employee outside a Target in Downtown Los Angeles.
Shooting Incident
The stand-off started around 11:30 a.m. in the 1200 block of Ingraham Street in the Westlake District. The suspect is currently holed up in the residence.
Background of the Incident
Earlier today, LAPD said they were searching for the gunman after an armed security guard and store employee who were trying to stop a shoplifter were shot near a Target in a downtown Los Angeles shopping mall.
Details of the Shooting
Officers were called to the 700 block of S. Figueroa Street for a report of a shooting just before 9 p.m. Two people were found with gunshot wounds at the FIGat7th shopping mall, where police said the security guard and Target employee tried to stop a shoplifter.
The man seen on store security camera video walked out of the store with unpaid merchandise in a suitcase and was confronted by the guard and employee, police said. The man armed with a handgun opened fire, sending shoppers running for cover.
Victims’ Conditions
One of the victims, a 33-year-old armed security officer employed by the mall, returned fire, police said. It was not immediately clear whether the gunman was struck.
The other victim was a 45-year-old Target loss-prevention employee, LAPD Capt. Raul Jovel said.
Update on the Victims’ Conditions
The armed guard was treated and released from a hospital. The Target employee remained in critical condition Tuesday afternoon.
Conclusion
The LAPD is still engaged in a standoff with the suspect, who is believed to be holed up in a residence in the Westlake District. The victims are receiving medical attention, and the community is left to wonder how such an incident could occur in a shopping mall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened at the FIGat7th shopping mall in Downtown LA?
A: A shooting incident occurred outside a Target store, resulting in two victims, a security guard, and a store employee, who were shot by a suspect who was trying to stop a shoplifter.
Q: What is the current status of the suspect?
A: The suspect is under arrest and is currently in a standoff with the LAPD in the Westlake District.
Q: What is the condition of the victims?
A: The armed security guard was treated and released from a hospital, while the Target employee remains in critical condition.