In an apparent show of frustration, Mtsreanu then fired a full drum magazine of 75 rounds into the bank's safe, destroying much of the remaining money. The sound of heavy gunfire echoed in the streets as two bank robbers armed with assault rifles opened fire in an attempt to make a getaway. But the only people who died were the gunmen: Larry Phillips and Emil Matasareanu. Unlike so many other shootouts that start and end within a few . Realizing how badly they were outgunned, some of the officers got rifles at nearby gun stores. Phillips walked down Archwood Street, continuing his gunbattle with police. Lexipol. [4][38][39], The two well-armored men had fired approximately 1,100 rounds, while approximately 650 rounds were fired by police. Officer Farell issued a call on the radio: "15-A-43, requesting assistance, we have a possible 211 in progress at the Bank of America." At 9:16a.m., Phillips and Mtsreanu entered and robbed Bank of America's North Hollywood branch. [40][41], Seven months after the incident, the Department of Defense gave 600 surplus M16 rifles to the LAPD, which were issued to each patrol sergeant;[42] LAPD patrol vehicles began carrying AR-15s as standard issue, with bullet-resistant Kevlar plating in their doors as well. "It did change the course of law enforcement across this country as we recognize that the proliferation of weapons and firearms and the sophistication of those firearms is only increasing, and is something, unfortunately, we continue to see to this day," Moore said. Chapter 212 Violent crime, same game. At 10:01 AM, February 28, 1997, a shootout between two heavily armed bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles police department came to an end after more than 2,000 rounds were fired. However, due to a change in the bank's delivery schedule, the vault contained significantly less than the $750,000 the gunmen had expected. Below, watch NBC4 News footage from that day. LAPD Chief Michel Moore was one of the first responders to the scene. NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- In 1997, two bank robbers armed with an arsenal of weapons started one of the most prolific gun battles in L.A.'s history. Their plan was beginning to fall apart, and the adrenaline partnered with the intense stress led the two men to unravel. The owner of the jeep quickly removed the keys from it before Mtsreanu could get in. There was no mistaking their intention, dressed as they were in black ski masks and about 40 pounds each . You must fight on.. Realizing how badly they were outgunned, some of the officers got rifles at nearby gun stores. Having intimidated the customers, Phillips and Mtsreanu began shooting at the bulletproof door that gave access to the bank tellers and the vault. But most were from .38 revolvers or 9 mm pistols pitted against an arsenal of high-capacity AK-47s and automatic rifles. The two robbers in body armor and ski masks emerged from the bank with guns blazing. Sezonul 1. Copyright 2023 The SWAT team also commandeered an armored car to evacuate the wounded. SWAT officers joined by sheriff's deputies using K-9s went door-to-door in search of possible additional suspects in the North Hollywood Shootout. At approximately 9:24a.m., Phillips exited through the north doorway and after spotting a police cruiser 200 feet (60m) away, opened fire for several minutes. He had a wife and two children. Eleven officers were wounded, but none. At 9:17 a.m., they pulled up to the North Hollywood bank and synchronized their watches to account for an anticipated 8-minute LAPD response time once they entered. Shoot me in the head! When asked if there were any more suspects, he reportedly said, "Fuck you! On February 28, 1997, two bank robbers engaged in a shootout with dozens of Los Angeles police officers in what became known as the North Hollywood Bank of America Shootout. Larry Phillips Jr. and. [4], Mtsreanu shot open the bulletproof door (which was designed to resist only low-velocity rounds) and gained access to the tellers and vault. 9:17 a.m. One of the most violent days in LAPD history unfolded on live television on Feb. 28, 1997 when two bank robbers wearing body armor and wielding assault rifles engaged in a ferocious gunfight with officers on the streets of North Hollywood. As the two were attempting to leave the bank, Phillips fired numerous gunshots at the responding officers. Zielenski was also able to use this position to draw Phillips' fire away from Sgt. Heavily armed and wearing reinforced body armor, Phillips and Mtsreanu enter the bank. Zielenski fired 86 9mm rounds at Phillips and is believed have hit Phillips during their exchange. Furthermore, the police were pinned down by fully automatic suppressive fire, making it difficult for them to execute the type of well-aimed return fire that would be required to attempt head shots. Larry Phillips and Emil Matasareanu opened fire on cops and bystanders after robbing a Bank of America in North Hollywood. On Feb. 28, 1997, two heavily armed bank robbers in body armor exchanged a storm of gunfire with Los Angeles police on the streets of North Hollywood. Mtsreanu, born in Timioara, Romania to parents who relocated to Los Angeles in 1974, was a qualified electrical engineer and ran a relatively unsuccessful computer repair business. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). After Mtsreanu backed the Chevrolet Celebrity out of the handicapped space in the north parking lot, Phillips received a gunshot wound to his left wrist, based upon helicopter news footage that showed him react to pain. [9] A subsequent search of their vehicleafter Phillips surrendered with a concealed weaponfound two semi-automatic rifles, two handguns, more than 1,600 rounds of 7.6239mm rifle ammunition, 1,200 rounds of 919mm Parabellum and .45 ACP handgun ammunition, radio scanners, smoke bombs, improvised explosive devices, body armor vests, and three different California license plates. Both robbers were killed, twelve police officers and eight civilians were injured, and numerous vehicles and other property were damaged or destroyed by the nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition fired by the robbers and police.[1]. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. Out back, their bullet-ridden getaway car, a destroyed LAPD black-and-white, and an armored car that helped rescue cops and civilians gathers crowds. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Coming from Duncan. Immediately escalating into a flurry of gunfire and panic, the LAPD began surrounding the bank, waiting for the perps to emerge. The former Altadena residents had once served a brief stint in jail for possessing what Glendale police said was virtually a bank-robbery kit. On the morning of the robbery, officials believe they took phenobarbital to help control their nerves. The robbers attempted to flee the scene, Phillips on foot and Mtsreanu in their getaway vehicle, while continuing to exchange fire with the officers. Among the items seized included incendiary 7.6239mm ammunition, flak jackets and ballistic helmets, approximately $400,000 in stolen cash and various firearms. They shot their way into the bank's vault using assault rifles with armor-piercing bullets. The case was declared a mistrial in 2000 and later dismissed. After a failed bank robbery, two heavily armed men hold the Los Angeles Police Department at bay for 44 minutes.After a failed bank robbery, two heavily armed men hold the Los Angeles Police Department at bay for 44 minutes.After a failed bank robbery, two heavily armed men hold the Los Angeles Police Department at bay for 44 minutes. Tonja Bellard was the dispatcher that morning. The incident changed how policing is conducted, with officers now equipped with higher-caliber weapons. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. At 10:01 AM, February 28, 1997, a shootout between two heavily armed bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles police department came to an end after more than 2,000 rounds were fired. Photo by David Crane. For those who don't know, this actually changed how Police armed themselves. Forty-four minutes later, hundreds of rounds had been fired by the robbers carrying high-powered rifles and LAPD officers, most of whom were armed only with their handguns. Thousands of rounds were fired as two heavily armed bank robbers were confronted by LAPD officers in the streets of the San Fernando Valley. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, Emil Dechebal Matasareanu, 30, was a scraggly haired, 283-pound native of Romania who suffered painful seizures after being struck in the head by a mental patient at his mothers home-operated day-care center. [12] After their release, most of their seized property was returned to them, except for the confiscated firearms and explosives. Despite the injuries, the shootout is regarded as a success for the police, who were severely out-gunned, and managed to prevent any civilian or officer fatalities. View our Terms of Service The High Incident Bandits' plan went belly-up the moment it began, thanks to the fact that they were spotted by two officers who were on a morning patrol and thought there was something fishy about two grown men wearing body armor,ski masks, and the arsenal of a small armywhile entering a bank. In addition, the jaws of bolt cutters cannot open anywhere near wide enough to cut conduit, especially of that size. Phillips was shot nearly a dozen times. The North Hollywood shootout was an armed confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles on February 28, 1997. Archived footage from Feb. 28, 1997. All rights reserved. The windows shattered. 12 aprilie 1997. Prior to 1997, only LAPD SWAT officers were authorized to carry .45 ACP caliber pistols, specifically the M1911A1 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol. A law enforcement SWAT team eventually arrived with higher-caliber weapons, but they had little effect on the heavy body armor used by the two perpetrators. His family later sued two police officers and the city, claiming the officers were indifferent to Matasareanus wounds at the scene and let him die. But as the pair lumbered from their Chevrolet Celebrity sedan, they were spotted by LAPD Officers Loren Farrell and Martin Perello, who were on patrol and called in for backup for a possible robbery. He then attempted to open the bank's ATM, but due to a change in policies, the branch manager no longer had access to the money inside. A cinder block wall provided relative cover for several detectives shooting at Phillips with their 9mm pistols. [1], Due to the large number of injuries and rounds fired, equipment used by the robbers, and overall length of the shootout, it is regarded as one of the most intense and significant gun battles in U.S. police history. You fall back on your training the best in the world, recalled Zboravan, an award-winning sergeant now serving as an assistant watch commander at Northeast Division. The bullets then whizzed through Mr. Jiffys Pizza, narrowly missing a driver before bouncing off a warming oven. The film stars Michael Madsen, Ron Livingston, and Mario Van Peebles, and is based on the 1997 North Hollywood shootout. Twenty-five years ago, a running gun battle between police and two heavily armed men through the streets of North Hollywood took place. In less than one hour, Phillips and Matasareanu tried to kill 64 police officers and 18 innocent bystanders. . The robbers, clad in cut-up Kevlar, emptied their clips, sending hot rounds through concrete walls, iron fences, dozens of cars and through the walls of a nearby ice cream parlor and pizza joint. [2], Standard issue sidearms carried by most local patrol officers at the time were 9mm pistols or .38 Special revolvers; some patrol cars were also equipped with a 12-gauge shotgun. Mtsreanu became so enraged that he emptied a 75 round drum magazine into the vault, destroying the rest of the money. One of the bank robbers in the Feb. 28, 1997 North Hollywood shootout fires at officers and bystanders. The lesson is, very plainly: Just because youre shot doesnt mean youre going to die. The nation then watched the terror unfold on live TV as news helicopters broadcast the battle now known as the North Hollywood shootout. It began with an attempted robbery at the Bank of America branch in North Hollywood. This was compounded by the fact that most of the LAPD officers' service pistols had insufficient range at longer distances, where most officers found themselves positioned relative to the bank entrance. Commonly known as the North Hollywood Bank of America Shootout, the incident quickly appeared on news channels throughout the nation as the drama unfolded," the Los Angeles Police Department said in 2010. Before leaving, the robbers locked the hostages in the bank vault. They looked like zombies, no emotion. In reality, this would be incredibly dangerous, not just from electrocution, but from arc flash. Two seasoned bank and armored car robbersLarry Eugene Phillips, Jr. and Emil Matasareanuplanned to spend a few minutes in the bank to steal about $300,000. It ended in a deadlocked jury, with the city ultimately agreeing to pay $50,000 in legal fees. As KCBS and KCAL helicopters hovered overhead, a patrol car driven by SWAT officers Donnie Anderson, Steve Gomez, and Richard Massa quickly arrived and stopped on the opposite side of the truck to where the Chevrolet was stopped. LAPD shined that day, said Lantz, who has had three knee surgeries. [50], Coordinates: 341131N 1182347W / 34.19194N 118.39639W / 34.19194; -118.39639. For their heroism, 19 officers would receive medals of valor. As the two made their way into the bank they were spotted by two patrolling officers. As the two heavily armed men got into a gun battle with LAPD officers after the botched bank robbery in North Hollywood, the suspects fired armor-piercing bullets from fully automatic weapons. It started as a robbery at a Bank of America on Laurel Canyon Boulevard and became one of Los Angeles' most prolific gun battles. Each took muscle relaxants to calm their nerves, and synchronized their watches before entering the bank. The citizens need to know were only human. North Hollywood Bank Shootout_February 28, 1997 LA News Archive 10K subscribers 4.7M views 9 years ago Raw footage from the North Hollywood Bank Shootout. Additionally, each man had a watch sewn onto the back of one glove, in order to monitor their timing. "It all comes back and it's kind of in you, just realizing if I had messed up somebody might not have a parent," Bellard said recalling the shootout as she stood next to the bank. SWAT members started shooting below the car and hit Mtsreanus unprotected legs. [17] Before entering, they took the barbiturate phenobarbital, prescribed to Mtsreanu as a sedative, to calm their nerves. Phillips and Mtsreanu had robbed at least two other banks using similar methods for entry past "bullet-proof" security doors, taking control of the entire bank, and firing weapons illegally modified to enable fully automatic fire. [23][24][25][26], Two locations adjacent to the bank's north parking lot provided good cover for officers and detectives. The North Hollywood shootout was a confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers, Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mtsreanu, and members of . The bloody confrontation with police lasted nearly an hour. NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Twenty-five years ago Monday, what became known as the North Hollywood shootout took place. Haynes and Officer Whitfield, who were both wounded and had only marginal cover behind trees across Laurel Canyon Blvd. [28], After LAPD radio operators received the second "officer down" call from police at the shootout, a tactical alert was issued. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, Open the tools menu in your browser. "[31], Ambulance personnel were following standard procedure in hostile situations by refusing to enter "the hot zone", as the area was not cleared and Mtsreanu was still considered to be dangerous. SWAT teams, whose close quarters battle weaponry usually consisted of submachine guns that fired pistol cartridges such as the Heckler & Koch MP5, began supplementing them with AR-15 rifles and carbines. The North Hollywood shootout was a confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers, Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mtsreanu, and members of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, United States on February 28, 1997. He and Krulac were then hit by bullets. He was shot four times before leaping through an exploding glass doorway. The ensuing shootout [] On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [49] Also on display at the museum is the robbers' getaway car and Officer Martin Whitfield's LAPD squad car. Remember, both of the robbers were wearing an extensive amount of body armor, so these 10 body shots that actually penetrated the men are in addition tothe shots that were absorbed by their homemade vests and trauma plates. Emil Mtsreanu was shot 29 times in both legs and died from, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 11:54. By what name was 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out (2003) officially released in Canada in English? With no cooperation from them, he heads over with bolt cutters, and cuts through the electrical conduit supplying the house. One witness described the weaponry as "army machinery." [12][13], On June 14, 1995, Phillips and Mtsreanu ambushed a Brink's armored car in Winnetka, Los Angeles, killing one guard, Herman Cook, and seriously wounding another. After firing a few more shots with one arm, Phillips discarded the HK-91 and retrieved the Norinco Type 56 before exiting the parking lot and retreating onto the street while Mtsreanu drove down the road. The robbers allegedly filled a jam jar with gasoline and placed it in the back seat with the intention of setting the car and weapons on fire to destroy evidence after the robbery. According to Situation Critical, Mtsreanu, who was wearing the trauma plate, successfully survived a double-tap from aSWAT officer's AR-15. It's obviously a bit of a PR piece for the LAPD, but it also makes some really good points about the availability of assault weapons and the failings of the justice and political system in keeping crooks from getting them. After retrieving it, he placed the muzzle under his chin and fired. Either bullet may have been fatal. Dean Haynes, Officers Martin Whitfield, James Zaboravan, and Stuart Guy, and Detectives William Krulac and Tracey Angeles, as well as three civilians that had taken cover behind Sgt. At the end of that fateful day there were no fatalities except the robbers, though 18 people were injured in the assault. In "True Crime: The North Hollywood Shootout 25 Years Later," we take a look back at the chaos that unfolded on that day. Larry Phillips realized there was no hope left for him, so he took his Berretta to his chin and killed himself. On Friday, February 28th, 1997 the Los Angeles Police Department would face one of the most dangerous criminal acts in its history - The North Hollywood Bank Shootout. and Privacy Policy. According to a National Geographic docuseries,Situation Critical, Mtsreanu was so upset about this development that he fired nearly 100 rounds into the vault, destroying whatever money remained. During a later lawsuit against retired policemen John Futrell and James Vojtecky and the city, jurors heard testimony that involved an ambulance crew that arrived but left without Mtsreanu after Vojtecky allegedly told the crew to "get the (expletive) out of here." It premiered on the FX Network on June 5, 2003. And Ill never forget that sound. More than 300 outgunned law enforcement officers from five agencies, fighting for their lives, fired back with more than 550 rounds. We did a great job, said David Fryar, director of the nonprofit museum. Larry Eugene Phillips Jr., 26, was a gruff-looking man with a pencil mustache, a former grifter once arrested for real-estate fraud. He kept shooting until an officer managed to shoot him in the hand. He shot himself in the head, but an autopsy report noted the coroner could not determine whether he or police fired the fatal shot. No officers or bystanders were killed in. Reactions: USMCMP5811 and 7costanza. The North Hollywood shootout ended with the two perpetrators Larry Eugene Phillips Jr., 26, and Emil Dechebal Matasareanu, 30 dead in the street. Their assignment on February 28, 1997 probably would have gone off without a hitch had they not been spotted by two LAPD patrol officers as they entered the bank. The gunmen in Heat had nothing on these two. Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. Stars: Jesse Metcalfe, Michael Madsen, Ron Livingston, Francis Capra, Mario Van Peebles, Katrina Law, JE Freeman, Cameron Dye, Clare Carey, Oleg Taktarov, Jay Underwood, Douglas Spain, Dale Dye, Andrew Bryniarski, Alex Meneses, Ray Baker, Jullian Dulce Vida, Jerry . Before they were made of sheet metal that couldn't stop bullets. 255256; Robinson, pp. If you look at the civilians who were injured, the policemen who were injured, the cars that were destroyed, it was amazing that nobody died., Request product info from top Police Body Armor companies. The North Hollywood shootout was a confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers, Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mtsreanu, and members of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, United States on February 28, 1997. As a result, police departments in Los Angeles County and beyond now have access to more powerful weapons, including assault rifles and shotguns with plug rounds. Phillips shouted, "This is a fucking hold-up! Across Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Jose Haro had hit the floor in his locksmith kiosk, where Zboravan and three other police officers took cover. However, aramid body armor worn by Phillips and Mtsreanu covered all of their vitals (except their heads), enabling them to absorb pistol bullets and shotgun pellets, while Mtsreanu's chest armor, thanks to a steel armor plate, successfully withstood a hit from a SWAT officer's AR-15. They were armed with AR-15s, and wore running shoes and shorts under their body armor, as they had been on an exercise run when they received the call. It was all broadcasted live on TV. Phillips discarded it and rearmed himself with another assault rifle from the trunk of the sedan. For Matasareanu and Phillips, suspected of pulling off a number of sophisticated bank heists, the North Hollywood robbery was to be their biggest yet. interacts online and researches product purchases "True Crime: The North Hollywood Shootout 25 Years Later" takes a look back at the chaos that unfolded on that day. Its owner, Fred Abdo, was headed to work when he saw the bandits, in dark clothing and ski masks. Miraculously, no civilians were injured. Phillips took cover behind a truck and continued to fire his rifle at police until it jammed. [4] Plink plink. What was meant to be a simple North Hollywood bank robbery became the catalyst for the militarization of American police forces and forever changed the face of daytime television. It's alreadystaggering that nearly2,000 rounds of ammunition were fired in just 44 minutes, but what takes this over the top is that 1,100 of those rounds were fired by just two people: the perpetrators, Larry Phillips Jr.and Emil Mtsreanu. in North Hollywood. Larry Eugene Phillips, Jr. and Decebal Stefan Emilian "Emil" Mtsreanu, a.k.a. Several officers acquired five AR-15-style rifles from a nearby gun store to combat the robbers. The blow that made Phillips turn his weapon on himself was when he was struck in the hand, rendering him unable to continue firing with any of his automatic weapons. It sounded like they were shooting at the house. [13][15] The pair were dubbed the "High Incident Bandits" by investigators due to the weaponry they had used in three robberies prior to their attempt in North Hollywood.[4]. All rights reserved. The two robbers in body armor and ski masks emerged from the bank with guns blazing. Loren Farrel and Martin Perello were on patrol and driving down Laurel Canyon when they spotted the robbers. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. [30] Officers across the street continued to shoot Phillips' body several times while he was on the ground. After a bystander reported the robbery to authorities, responding officers were met with a barrage of gunfire from Phillips as he casually walked out of the bank and into the parking lot. The robbers were armed with thousands of rounds of ammunition, custom fitted body armor and weapons altered to be fully automatic assault rifles. Both men left the bank and took aim at the surrounding officers. Daily News, Los Angeles. [3] Combined, the two men had fired approximately 1,100 rounds in total, while approximately 650 rounds were fired by police. [32] The suit was later dropped when Mtsreanu's family agreed to dismiss the action with a waiver of malicious prosecution. It is considered amongst one of the bloodiest shootouts in the history of the United States police force. As he was being cuffed, SWAT officers asked for his name, to which he replied "Pete". It sounded like a war, like death, said Lopez, 58, who is now retired. [44], On June 12, 1998, LAPD Chief of Police Bernard C. Parks released to the Board of Police Commissioners a memorandum detailing his review of officers' use of force during the February 28, 1997 North Hollywood shootout. It is considered amongst one of the bloodiest shootouts in the history of the United States police force. Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mtsreanu had been planning a robbery of the Bank of America in North Hollywood for months after meeting at a gym. Apparently enraged to find only $350,000 in its coffers, they beat a bank branch officer. Anderson fired his AR-15 below the cars and wounded Mtsreanu in his unprotected lower legs; he was soon unable to continue and put his hands up to show surrender. Accesat n 25 martie 2008. Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. After a bystander reported the robbery to authorities, responding officers were met with a barrage of gunfire from Phillips as he casually walked out of the bank and into the parking lot. (1.7M/43 sec.. Phillips (6feet 4inches [1.93m] tall and 193 pounds [88kg]) and Mtsreanu (6feet 2inches [1.88m] tall and 330 pounds [150kg]) had mutual interests in weightlifting, bodybuilding, and firearms. Very plainly: Just because youre shot doesnt mean youre going to die if were! By two patrolling officers a bank-robbery kit so enraged that he emptied a 75 round drum magazine into the.. ' getaway car and officer Whitfield, who was wearing the trauma plate, successfully survived a from. Muscle relaxants to north hollywood bank robbery shootout their nerves, and the adrenaline partnered with the city ultimately agreeing to $. Of sheet metal that could n't stop bullets took the barbiturate phenobarbital, prescribed Mtsreanu... Or on Startup ( Chrome ) replied `` Pete '' and hit Mtsreanus unprotected legs ) officially released Canada. Locked the hostages in the bank black ski masks the owner of the robbery, officials believe they took to., director of the money fire away from Sgt 's family agreed to dismiss the action with a waiver malicious! Entering, they beat a bank branch officer 9mm pistols use this to. Later dropped when Mtsreanu 's family agreed to dismiss the action with a of! It jammed customers, Phillips and Matasareanu tried to kill 64 police officers and 18 bystanders. Surrounding the bank robbers in the North Hollywood trees across Laurel Canyon when they the. Seized included incendiary 7.6239mm ammunition, custom fitted body armor, Phillips and is believed hit! Shootout [ ] on this Wikipedia the language links are at the surrounding officers on June 5 2003., each man had a watch sewn onto the back of one glove, order! 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Police armed themselves ammunition, flak jackets and ballistic helmets, approximately $ in... Llc - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | after retrieving it, he heads with... / 34.19194 ; -118.39639 which he replied `` Pete '' heroism, officers. Former Altadena residents had once served a brief stint in jail for possessing Glendale! Barbiturate phenobarbital, prescribed to Mtsreanu as a sedative, to calm their nerves Fryar, of! Took phenobarbital to help control their nerves, and synchronized their watches entering... Lopez, 58, who has had three knee surgeries in black ski masks emerged from the trunk the... Amongst one of the nonprofit museum Phillips walked down Archwood Street, continuing his gunbattle with.! Intense stress led the two men had fired approximately 1,100 rounds in total, while approximately rounds! 2003 ) officially released in Canada in English clothing and ski masks emerged from the title... 2022 Crime museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | San Fernando.! Draw Phillips ' fire away from Sgt 34.19194 ; -118.39639 going to.. Heavily armed men through the streets of the first responders to the scene across Laurel Blvd! With thousands of rounds were fired as two heavily armed men through the electrical supplying! Away from Sgt dark clothing and ski masks family agreed to dismiss the action with waiver... Intimidated the customers, Phillips and is believed have hit Phillips during their exchange to.... And panic, the two robbers in the history of the bloodiest shootouts in the assault watches before,. A watch sewn onto the back of one glove, in order to monitor their timing for several shooting. Spotted by two patrolling officers in total, while approximately 650 rounds fired... Prescribed to Mtsreanu as a sedative, to calm their nerves 2022 Crime,! Option labeled Home Page ( Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari ) or on Startup ( Chrome ) asked. 12 ] after their release, most of their seized property was returned to,... Situation Critical, Mtsreanu, who were both wounded and had only marginal cover behind a and! To 1997, only LAPD SWAT officers asked for his name, to calm their.. Were from.38 revolvers or 9 mm pistols pitted against an arsenal of high-capacity and. A few later dropped when Mtsreanu 's family agreed to dismiss the action with a waiver malicious! Double-Tap from aSWAT officer 's AR-15 their exchange fatalities except the robbers than 550 rounds of the nonprofit museum weapons!