Police responded to an armed robbery and shooting at the Hing Wa Lee Jewelers at 1569 S. Fairway Drive according to Lt. David Buckner of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Walnut Station.
Several security officers were injured and a volley of gunshots were fired between the three men and several security officers according to Buckner.
Suspects wearing all black tried to hold up the store when they were confronted by armed security officers and shots began to be fired.
Jeff Jacobs said he was in the underground parking lot below the jewelry store when he saw the trio running up the stairs, firing their guns. “I saw the security guard with a shotgun in his hand,” Jacobs said. “I hear a very loud boom, like a noise I’ve never heard before.”
Two other armed security officers were stationed outside the store and they returned fire at the men as they tried to flee. Police say that the security officers prevented the armed men from entering the store and that there was a substantial shoot-out in doing so.
Owner, David Lee, said a gunbattle outside the store scared the would-be robbers off. “I think the object was to take the guards out but they didn’t get close. The security guards were saying they heard the bullets flying close to their head.”
Five customers were in the store at the time. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
One of the security officers, who did not want to be identified, hurt his knee when he jumped a flight of steps while chasing the suspects who took off running and another security officer fell through a second story window injuring himself.
The jewelry store owner turned over to police a security video in which the men were seen removing their masks as they ran toward their getaway vehicle which was said to be a white 2000 Chevy Impala
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