A woman was shot and killed inside a crowded Trader Joe's store in Los Angeles where a man took hostages and barricaded himself for several hours Saturday afternoon after exchanging gunfire with police at the end of a pursuit.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said the man, who is approximately 28 years old, was suspected of shooting his grandmother as many as seven times and injuring another woman in a family dispute around 1:30 p.m. in the Newton area of Los Angeles.
The man then fled the location in his grandmother's vehicle, forcibly taking the other female victim with him. Police located the vehicle in Hollywood and initiated a pursuit, which ended outside the Trader Joe's in the Silver Lake neighborhood when the suspect crashed the vehicle.
An officer-involved shooting then occurred and the man fled into the store in the 2700 block of Hyperion Avenue, Moore said.
Moore said police believed the victim was shot "in the initial moments of him exiting the vehicle and the exchange of gunfire."
"Our officers rescued that woman from inside and attempted to render aid with the assistance of LA Fire and unfortunately were unable to revive her," Moore told reporters during a press conference.
The woman was identified as Melyda Corado, the grocery store's 27-year-old manager, according to her family, and reported by ABC News.
The suspect then took numerous customers and store employees hostage and "held them against their will" inside the store, Moore said.
Over the next three hours, emergency responders rescued a number of hostages and the suspect also released some people, Moore said.
The suspect ultimately handcuffed himself and surrendered to officers around 6:30 p.m., officials said.
Los Angeles Fire Department treated the suspect, who suffered an injury to his left arm, at the scene. The woman he pulled into his car was transported to a local hospital and was in good condition.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said there were about 40 to 50 people inside the store when the incident began.
Aerial footage of the store showed police helping people and children flee the store throughout the three-hour standoff.
Officers rescued a group of children after an armed suspect opened fire and barricaded himself inside a Trader Joe’s in the Hollywood area. Live updates: https://t.co/tbjgPmD5iq https://t.co/873SgyQwsj
A Trader Joe's employee was also seen helping others escape through a window and down a ladder near the supermarket's entrance.
Wow! Bravo to this #TraderJoes crew member Sean. He heard the shots, barricaded himself and some co-workers upstairs, grabbed the window ladder and helped many of his co-workers get out. You can see him in the picture below. #SilverLake @NBCLA https://t.co/2co6JqVhCY
"I decided I just didn't want to wait there any longer," the employee, Sean Gerace, told reporters. "I went down the ladder and three of my coworkers followed after and got them out."
Garcetti said he and his wife have lived in the area for many years and shopped at the Silver Lake Trader Joe's store almost weekly.
"Our hearts go out to everybody who has been traumatized, of course, most importantly those employees and those customers of the Trader Joe's that have gone through the last few hours," Garcetti said.
He went on to thank first responders, saying that "the heroism that was shown today was second to none."
"The teams that were able to respond, secure the perimeter, and engage in conversation with the suspect no doubt saved lives today," Garcetti continued.
Writer Devin Field said on Twitter he was walking into the store when a car fleeing the police crashed into a streetlight. A man then got out of the vehicle and started shooting at the police, Field wrote.
I was walking in when a car crashed running from the police crashed into street lamp in front of the entrance. Gunman got out and started shooting at the cops. I hid behind a retaining wall with three cops until they had me crawl out
"I hid behind a retaining wall with three cops until they had me crawl out," Field said.
The incident also caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who tweeted that he was monitoring the situation.
Watching Los Angeles possible hostage situation very closely. Active barricaded suspect. L.A.P.D. working with Federal Law Enforcement.
Democratic lawmaker Adam Schiff, whose California district includes Silver Lake, said he was saddened to hear that a woman had died in the incident.
Deeply saddened to learn that a woman inside the Silver Lake Trader Joe’s was shot and killed. I had a chance to speak with Chief Moore and to thank him for the brave work of the men and women of the LAPD. Our prayers are with the families of the victims.