Woman Killed in Hostage Standoff at Trader Joe's

Man in custody after shooting grandmother, car chase, gun battle, taking hostages
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 22, 2018 5:03 AM CDT
Trader Joe's Standoff Ends With Woman Dead, Suspect Cuffing Self
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, center, and Police Chief Michel Moore, right, brief the media after a gunman held dozens hostage inside a Trader Joe's before surrendering in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 21, 2018.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A California domestic dispute spiraled out of control Saturday, ending with the death of a complete stranger. Police say that an unidentified 28-year-old male got in a fight with his grandmother, shot her at least seven times, then forced another female into the grandmother's Toyota and fled, reports the Los Angeles Times. A car chase with police ensued, with the gunman shooting out his own rear window while firing before he crashed into a light pole in Silver Lake; he was shot in the arm by police as he fled inside a nearby Trader Joe's, where a standoff began with some 40 hostages inside. "Those bullets went right over the back of me as he was running right down the main aisle," a 91-year-old man, who rushed inside the store to take cover after the crash, tells the AP.

After three hours of talks with negotiators, the suspect handcuffed himself and surrendered, notes the Times. One woman—identified as store manager Melyda Corado—was killed in the gunfire, and several other people had non-life-threatening injuries. "The heroism that was shown today was second to none and the teams that were able to respond, secure the perimeter and engage in conversation with the suspect no doubt saved lives today," said LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, a former neighborhood resident. "Our hearts go out to everyone who has been traumatized." The suspect's grandmother has had numerous surgeries and is in unknown condition, reports CNN. (More hostages stories.)

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