The suspected gunman in a violent shooting at a Target store in downtown Los Angeles was arrested Tuesday, just a few short blocks from where the crime occurred.
The unidentified suspect, who police referred to as a person of interest, was arrested after an hourslong standoff at an apartment building on the 1200 block of Ingraham Street in the Westlake District.
Police say the suspect barricaded himself inside the apartment as officers attempted to serve a warrant at the residence. Viewer footage from the scene showed several broken windows and KTLA’s Chris Wolfe reported several canisters of tear gas were delivered into the man’s makeshift bunker.
Images later shared with KTLA showed a person being detained at the scene surrounded by several heavily armed officers, including special enforcement bureau officers wearing gas masks.
The arrest came hours after the Los Angeles Police Department held a press conference to discuss the ongoing search and released the first images of the gunman, who shot two security guards at the Target store located in the FigAt7th shopping mall.
According to police, the suspect, a man believed to be in his early 20s, shot the two security guards after they confronted him for shoplifting.
The suspect entered the store carrying a briefcase and filled it with stolen items before walking past the registers without paying, police officials said during a Tuesday press conference.
“He was confronted by the security guards outside the Target where a confrontation ensued,” LAPD Capt. Raul Jovel said. “During that scuffle, the suspect produced a pistol and began firing indiscriminately, shooting two people.”
Police also confirmed that one of the two security guards was armed and exchanged gunfire with the assailant. “This was a gunfight,” Jovel added.
At least 10 rounds were fired between the two with several walls hit. At the time of their afternoon press conference, LAPD officials said it was unclear if the gunman was hit by return fire.
Photos shared by LAPD Tuesday morning showed the man who fired and struck the two security guards. He was described as being between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall and weighing around 160 pounds. At the time of the shooting, he was wearing a black jacket, purple scarf, gray pants and a black do-rag.
The man’s weapon was described as a 9mm pistol.
The Los Angeles Police Department released security images of the suspected gunman in a shooting at a DTLA Target on Dec. 30, 2024.
Prior to his arrest Tuesday evening, he was considered to be armed and dangerous.
The shooting, which happened around 9 p.m. at a Target store located at 735 S. Figueroa St. in the FigAt7th shopping mall in downtown L.A., left the two security guards hospitalized, one of whom was in critical condition.
During Tuesday’s press conference, LAPD officials provided a positive update, saying that one of the security guards had been released from the hospital.
L.A. police and fire personnel on the scene of a double shooting on Dec. 30, 2024. (KNN)
The armed security guard was employed by the shopping center, police said, while the other works in loss prevention for Target.
FigAt7th said in a statement that the mall was “deeply troubled” by the incident that occurred Monday night and was working closely with police in their investigation.
A statement from Target added that the company was “saddened by this horrible act of violence and our thoughts are with those who were injured, their friends and families.”
The store where the shooting took place remains closed as of Tuesday night, store officials confirmed.
Jovel said the LAPD and its law enforcement partners were committed to combating retail theft as they “strive to make downtown a safe location to visit, live and work at.”
The shooting remains under investigation and anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD Central Robbery Detective Alvarez at 213-833-3750.
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