Tonja Bellard was the dispatcher that morning. Uncut footage of the North Hollywood Bank Shootout From a News Helicopter. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. In addition, the jaws of bolt cutters cannot open anywhere near wide enough to cut conduit, especially of that size. The two robbers entered the bank, ordered everyone to get on the floor, and opened fire into the ceiling to dissuade resistance. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. I was reading about the North Hollywood shootout and it said this. [28], After LAPD radio operators received the second "officer down" call from police at the shootout, a tactical alert was issued. And it was at the key shack that he dove atop Detective William Krulac and Officer Tracey Angeles as Phillips returned fire. All rights reserved. The shootout contributed to motivating the arming of rank-and-file police officers in Los Angeles and nationwide with semi-automatic rifles. 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]. 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. Their weapons were completely ineffective against these guys and "Several officers acquired semi-automatic rifles from a nearby gun store to combat the robbers." "Shoot-Out in North Hollywood: Command and Communications" by Nancy J. Rigg (focusing on dispatch and command post coordination), 27 minutes of helicopter footage of the shootout from the LA News Archive, Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums, Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Library, Portal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_Hollywood_shootout&oldid=1141508680, Law enforcement operations in the United States, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2018, Articles with dead external links from October 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Sergeant Larry "Dean" Haynes was hit in the left shoulder, Officer Martin Whitfield was shot and seriously wounded four times in the left arm, right femur and chest, Officer Conrado Torrez was grazed in the right side of the neck, Officer James Zboravan was shot twice and seriously wounded in the lower back, hip and thigh, Detective William "John" Krulac was hit in the right ankle, Detective Tracey Angeles was grazed in the stomach and buttock, Officer Stuart Guy was hit twice in the right femur and right forearm, Detective Earl Valladares was hit in the head by flying debris, Officer Ed Brentlinger was hit by gunfire and by concrete fragments on his face and left forearm, Officer William Lantz was hit in the right knee, Officer John Goodman was hit by flying glass and shrapnel, Officer David Grimes was injured in a traffic accident, John Villigrana was struck across the head by the stock of an assault rifle, Barry Golding was hit by flying glass and shrapnel, Michael Horen was hit in the left side of the chest, Jose Haro was hit by flying glass and shrapnel, William Marr was hit by glass and shrapnel fragments in the right arm, left temple and nose. Like drugged. NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Twenty-five years ago Monday, what became known as the North Hollywood shootout took place. North Hollywood Shootout". The shootout lasted over 40 minutes and resulted in the death of Phillips and Matasareanu. Among the items seized included incendiary 7.6239mm ammunition, flak jackets and ballistic helmets, approximately $400,000 in stolen cash and various firearms. 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. Prior to 1997, only LAPD SWAT officers were authorized to carry .45 ACP caliber pistols, specifically the M1911A1 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol. He and Krulac were then hit by bullets. 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. Track SoCal rain with LIVE Megadoppler 7000 HD. It sounded like a war, like death, said Lopez, 58, who is now retired. Zielenski fired 86 9mm rounds at Phillips and is believed have hit Phillips during their exchange. [8], On October 29, they were arrested in Glendale, northeast of Los Angeles, for operating a stolen vehicle. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. The incident sparked debate on the need for patrol officers to upgrade their firepower in preparation for similar situations in the future. [4][38][39], The two well-armored men had fired approximately 1,100 rounds, while approximately 650 rounds were fired by police. The robbers were armed with thousands of rounds of ammunition, custom fitted body armor and weapons altered to be fully automatic assault rifles. Below, watch NBC4 News footage from that day. It began with an attempted robbery at the Bank of America branch in North Hollywood. He recalled the detective saying of the AK-47 nightmare, I served in Vietnam. It is considered amongst one of the bloodiest shootouts in the history of the United States police force. The police radioed for an ambulance, but Mtsreanu, loudly swearing profusely and still goading the police to shoot him, died before the ambulance and EMTs were allowed to reach the scene almost 70 minutes later. LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- A blaze of automatic gunfire ripped through a crowded neighborhood after several heavily-armed gunmen dressed like commandos botched a bank robbery. All rights reserved, North Hollywood Shootout: Dramatic Images of the Bloody Gun Battle, North Hollywood Shootout: Officer Recalls Surviving Armor-Piercing Bullet Wounds. I cant forget that day, said Kazanchyan, now 49. 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. Emil Mtsreanu was shot 29 times in both legs and died from, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 11:54. For his valor, he would receive an award from the county. 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. Plink plink. 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. See production, box office & company info, The Screen Junkies Show: Greatest Movie Bank Robbery Ever, Number of real LAPD Officers used as extras: 35, Number of rounds of blank ammunition fired: 40,000, Amount of theatrical blood used: 10 gallons. Archived footage from Feb. 28, 1997. The North Hollywood shootout involved two bank robbers wearing bulletproof vests and homemade body armour on their legs and carrying automatic rifles. 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 . Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. They entered the Bank of America at. It wasnt my time., At another nearby shop, Miguel Lopez was installing a battery in the car of an off-duty police officer when the shooting started. Larry Eugene Phillips, Jr. and Decebal Stefan Emilian "Emil" Mtsreanu, a.k.a. The light bar was shattered.. Unlike so many other shootouts that start and end within a few . Loren Farrel and Martin Perello were on patrol and driving down Laurel Canyon when they spotted the robbers. . [3] Combined, the two men had fired approximately 1,100 rounds in total, while approximately 650 rounds were fired by police. He had a wife and two children. 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. When the shell casings stopped rolling, two bandits lay dead one after shooting himself after sustaining 10 gunshot wounds and the other after bleeding to death from 29 gunshots after telling police, F--- you. 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. Larry Phillips and Emil Matasareanu opened fire on cops and bystanders after robbing a Bank of America in North Hollywood. Forty-four minutes later, hundreds of rounds had been fired by the robbers carrying AK-47s and LAPD officers, most of whom were armed only with their handguns. Either bullet may have been fatal. Wounded and bleeding, they sprinted toward the doorway of an upstairs dentist office, between a defunct Builders Emporium and Hughes Market, in what is now a Smart & Final and a Ralphs. Ten officers and four citizens were wounded in the fighting, but no one other than the suspects died. About a dozen LAPD officers and several bystanders were injured during the shootout. They were also suspects in two armored car robberies. We only knew what happened when we saw it on the news.. On February 28th, 1997, the sound of automatic gunfire filled the streets of North Hollywood as LAPD officers engaged in a firefight with two bank robbers. Events unfolded after attempted robbery at the Bank of America branch in North Hollywood. Eleven officers and two civilians were wounded. As he was being cuffed, SWAT officers asked for his name, to which he replied "Pete". Copyright 2023 CNN. 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. I think its like a movie, said store manager Eim Tang. The North Hollywood shootout was a confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers, Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mtsreanu, and members of . ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. When his gun jammed and he was no longer able to advance, he shot himself. 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. It was all broadcasted live on TV. The North Hollywood shootout, sometimes also called the Battle of North Hollywood, was an armed confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers and members of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles on February 28, 1997. More than one, more than one, responded a frantic officer recorded on audiotape. [4], Phillips and Mtsreanu continued to engage the officers, firing sporadic bursts into the patrol cars that had been positioned on Laurel Canyon in front of the bank and in the parking lot across the street. The gunmen fired at least 1,000 rounds at the police, who fired an estimated 1,000 or more right back at . 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. The locations used in the movie were the actual locations where the shootout took place, and this added immeasurably to the realism of the story. On Saturday, B.C. Phenobarbital is mentioned as having been in their blood. The North Hollywood shootout was an armed confrontation between two heavily armed bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in the North Hollywood district of Los . All rights reserved, North Hollywood Shootout: Dramatic Images of the Bloody Gun Battle, North Hollywood Shootout: Officer Recalls Surviving Armor-Piercing Bullet Wounds, Avalanche Blocks Road in Mount Baldy Area After Cold Storm Drops Several Feet of Snow, 5 Freeway Closed North of LA Due to Snow and Poor Visibility, March 1983: The Day a Rare Tornado Rampaged Through Los Angeles, Early Risers Capture Dramatic Views of LA With Snow-Draped Mountains. READ ALSO | LAPD Chief Michel Moore looks back at 1997 NoHo bank robbery, San Bernardino County deputies to begin wearing body cameras, New Topgolf facility opens next to Montebello Golf Course, Snowfall reaches 15 feet in some areas of Yosemite National Park. "[21] before he and Mtsreanu opened fire into the ceiling in an attempt to scare the approximately thirty bank staff and customers and to discourage resistance. [50], Coordinates: 341131N 1182347W / 34.19194N 118.39639W / 34.19194; -118.39639. 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. After the North Hollywood Shootout. One particular firearma short-barreled AR-15 with an aftermarket red dot sightwas later released from evidence for use by a law enforcement agency. Phillips was born in . 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. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. The case was declared a mistrial in 2000 and later dismissed. 1997 bank robbery and subsequent shootout between bank robbers and police, This article is about the real-life incident. Each took muscle relaxants to calm their nerves, and synchronized their watches before entering the bank. 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. [citation needed], Mtsreanu's vehicle was rendered inoperable after two of its tires were shot out and the windshield covered in bullet holes. Captain Johnny Starling of the California Highway Patrol West Valley division told CNN in 2017 that his officers now have AR-15s in their vehicles, and he said, "Even our patrol cars have Kevlar side panels. 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. 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. "The High Incident Bandits", were a pair of murderous bank robbers and cop killers famous for perpetrating a deadly shootout with Los Angeles officers after robbing a bank on February 28, 1997. [4], On April 17, 1997, police raided a house in Anaheim traced to Phillips and Mtsreanu. The dye packs later exploded, ruining what money they did get. RELATED: LAPD Chief Michel Moore looks back at 1997 NoHo bank robbery. They gathered their automatic arsenal, including a Chinese-made AK-47 for Phillips, with a 70-round drum magazine, and a Bushmaster XM15 assault rifle for Matasareanu, with twin drums containing 100 rounds. The lesson is, very plainly: Just because youre shot doesnt mean youre going to die. The officers called in for backup, which responded within minutes and surrounded the bank. 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. In reality, this would be incredibly dangerous, not just from electrocution, but from arc flash. The facts about the 1997 North Hollywood shootout are all nearly unbelievable, from the number of rounds fired during the siegeto the kind of weaponsthe assailants used. [4] Following their training, the responding patrol officers directed their fire at the "center of mass", or torsos, of Mtsreanu and Phillips. He shot himself in the head, but an autopsy report noted the coroner could not determine whether he or police fired the fatal shot. 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. Copyright 2023 Police1. An officer was heard on the LAPD police frequency approximately 10 to 15 minutes into the shootout, warning other officers that they should "not stop [the getaway vehicle], they've got automatic weapons, there's nothing we have that can stop them. Larry Phillips realized there was no hope left for him, so he took his Berretta to his chin and killed himself. [43] Also as a result of this incident LAPD authorized its officers to carry .45 ACP caliber semi-automatic pistols as duty sidearms, specifically the Smith & Wesson Models 4506 and 4566. NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (FOX 11 / CNS) - Tuesday marks the 20th anniversary of one of the most violent days in the history of Los Angeles, but it doesn't seem that long ago to one of the officers . Theres so much going on. 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. 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. "[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. 19 Facts About The North Hollywood Shootout, One Of The Most Notorious Modern Bank Robberies, $750,000 Larry PhillipsJr.and Emil Mtsreanu had expected. For his trouble, he later suffered nightmares and a nervous tic in one eye. In this article we're going to take a different track and look at one of the better documented shootouts of the last few decades: the North Hollywood Bank Robbery of 1997. But most were from .38 revolvers or 9 mm pistols pitted against an arsenal of high-capacity AK-47s and automatic rifles. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. View our Terms of Service in North Hollywood. The North Hollywood shootout ended with the two perpetrators Larry Eugene Phillips Jr., 26, and Emil Dechebal Matasareanu, 30 dead in the street. To work as a team, to move toward the threat and try to stop that threat as quickly as possible. The lawsuit was tried in United States District Court in February and March 2000, and ended in a mistrial with a hung jury. He bled to death while police, concerned about reports of a third masked gunman, searched the area. [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. The other location that proved advantageous for the LAPD was the backyard of 6641 Agnes Avenue. According to LAPD, at least 12 officers and two bystanders were injured. The officers testified they tried to get the ambulance to come back or to get another one, but the plaintiffs focused on a point at which Futrell canceled an ambulance call and told the dispatcher, "I have no officers or citizens down, only a suspect. (Gene Blevins/Los Angeles Daily News)For the dozens of officers called to respond to the bank robbery in North Hollywood 15 years ago, it was like looking into the face of hell. [16] Mtsreanu wore only a Type IIIA bulletproof vest, but included a metal ballistic plate to protect vital organs. LAPD Chief Michel Moore was one of the first responders to the scene. His gun jammed when he was pinned down behind a car. Robbery. Accesat n 19 iunie 2007. They didn't care," Massa told CNN. Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. At that point he pulled out his Berretta M9FS handgun to continue his shootout with the police. In 1997, two bank robbers wearing body armour and wielding assault rifles attempted a heist at the Bank of America in North Hollywood before engaging in a lengthy gunfight with police, most of . Twelve police officers and eight civilians were injured and two suspects died in the shootout. Matasareanu, shot twice in the bank parking lot, took cover in a getaway car and slowly drove toward Phillips, who continued walking and shooting. [17] Before entering, they took the barbiturate phenobarbital, prescribed to Mtsreanu as a sedative, to calm their nerves. Their actions would in turn change American policing forever. LAPD officers armed with handguns and shotguns were no match for the two bank robbers toting assault rifles. We did a great job, said David Fryar, director of the nonprofit museum. Phillips was shot nearly a dozen times. With such an overwhelming number of shotsfired, it's amazing to think that there were only two fatalities. It is considered amongst one of the bloodiest shootouts in the history of the United States police force. Matasareanu tried to hijack a pickup, but he was unable to get it started and then began a 6-minute gunbattle with police, until he collapsed from his injuries. Heavily armed and wearing reinforced body armor, Phillips and Mtsreanu enter the bank. Police1 is revolutionizing the way the law enforcement community [46], The year following the shootout, 18 officers of the LAPD received the departmental Medal of Valor for their actions,[47] and met President Bill Clinton. Both robbers were killed, twelve police . 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. Figures of the North Hollywood shootout suspects, Larry Phillips, Jr., and Emil Matasareanu as they were dressed on the day of the robbery in North Hollywood are on display at the Los Angeles Police museum in Highland Park. [23][24][25][26], Two locations adjacent to the bank's north parking lot provided good cover for officers and detectives. All rights reserved. Shoot me in the head! The bloody confrontation with police lasted nearly an hour. [4], At 9:52a.m., Phillips turned east on Archwood Street and took cover behind a parked semi-truck where he continued to fire at the police (Lt. Michael Ranshaw, Officers Conrado Torrez, John Caprarelli, and Ed Brentlinger) until his rifle jammed. Immediately escalating into a flurry of gunfire and panic, the LAPD began surrounding the bank, waiting for the perps to emerge. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). Before they were made of sheet metal that couldn't stop bullets. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Filming 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. North of the bank across Archwood Street, bullets drilled through the stucco of Baskin-Robbins, piercing ice cream counters above the pistachio almond bucket, as well as an ice cream cake in a now patched-up freezer. [33], Most of the incident, including the death of Phillips and surrender of Mtsreanu, was broadcast live by news helicopters, which hovered over the scene and televised the action as events unfolded. Police likely shot Phillips with their handguns while Phillips was still firing and taking cover near the four vehicles adjacent to the North wall of the bank (gray Honda Civic, Ford Explorer, white Acura Legend, and Chevrolet Celebrity). Matasareanu, shot several times in the legs, bled to death a short time later. That means, from the beginning of the siege, no one stopped firing their weapons until Phillips and Mtsreanuwere dead. He says the shootout had a major impact on police work in the city and across the country. "Feb. 28, 1997, is a date that will forever be etched in the annals of LAPD history as one of the most violent encounters Department officers ever endured. Arhivat din originalul de la 21 mai 2007. One witness described the weaponry as "army machinery." Matasareanu, shot twice in the bank parking lot, took cover in a getaway car and slowly drove toward Phillips, who continued walking and shooting. It was all broadcasted live on TV and forever changed the course of policing. He shot himself in the head, but an autopsy report noted the coroner could not determine whether he or police fired the fatal shot. The bank was expected to have more than $750,000 to accommodate a Friday payday. Both men had accumulated a stockpile of body armor, weapons, and ammunition which could sustain them through an hour-long shootout. According to KNBC News in Los Angeles, some officers attempted to get higher-caliber rifles from nearby gun stores to combat the assault rifles being used by the robbers. For those who don't know, this actually changed how Police armed themselves. The former Altadena residents had once served a brief stint in jail for possessing what Glendale police said was virtually a bank-robbery kit. The North Hollywood siege ended at 10:01 a.m. As the gunfire suddenly ceased in front of her Archwood home, Anna Kazanchyan crouched inside with her two young children watching it play out on TV. LAPD Chief Michel Moore looks back at 1997 NoHo bank robbery. [10] Initially charged with conspiracy to commit robbery,[11] both served 100 days in jail and were placed on three years of probation due to plea bargaining. Larry Phillips Jr. committed suicide via a gunshot to the head. Soon the robbers realized that there was less money than they had expected because of a change in the bank delivery schedule. The Los Angeles officers who found themselves under a barrage of heavy machine-gun fire from the North Hollywood bank robbers quickly realized that their 9mm pistols and shotguns were ineffective against the armored gunmen. LAPD officers armed with handguns and shotguns were no match for the two bank robbers toting assault rifles. Between the police and the bank robbers, more than 2,000 rounds were fired in North Hollywood Shootout. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. For eight months, I didnt sleep during the night.. 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out, "How the North Hollywood Shootout Changed Patrol Arsenals", "44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout", https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/suceava/banditul-roman-care-a-schimbat-legile-din-statele-1832146.html, "Shootout in L.A. 2 'armed-for-war' robbers killed; 16 hurt in failed heist", "Bernard C. Parks to Honorable Board of Police Commissioners, June 12, 1998", "20 years ago, a dramatic North Hollywood shootout changed the course of the LAPD and policing at large", "Botched L.A. bank heist turns into bloody shootout", "Once Banned, Now Loved and Loathed: How the AR-15 Became 'America's Rifle', "Miami police given option to patrol with assault rifles", "North Hollywood Bank Shootout_February 28, 1997", "Bernard C. Parks to Honorable Board of Police Commissioners", "Bank Robber Bled to Death, Autopsy Shows", "20 years ago, gunbattle terrorized North Hollywood and shocked America", "Dying Bank Robber's Last Words To Police:: 'Shoot Me In The Head', "Police Kill 2 Bank Robbery Suspects in a Wild Gun Battle", "North Hollywood Shootout Safehouse Arsenal", "Interdepartmental Correspondence, OIS #18-97", Offbeat L.A.: Police on my Back- The LAPD Museum, "LAPD museum showcases department's good, bad, ugly", "Lawsuit accuses L.A. police of letting wounded gunman die", "Mistrial Declared in Case Stemming From Shootout", "Stunned police, residents cope with aftermath of L.A. shootout", "Family of robber killed in L.A. shootout sues", "2007 National Geographic Channel episode of Situation Critical North Hollywood Shootout", Casefile True Crime Podcast Case 18: The North Hollywood Shootout. According to reports, the two robbers, 26-year-old Larry Eugene Phillips Jr. and 30-year-old Emil Matasareanu, entered the Bank of America in North Hollywood early in the morning on February. Lexipol. February 28, 1997, Los Angeles, California After a botched robbery at a Bank of America branch in North Hollywood, two robbers armed with fully automatic assault rifles and wearing full body armor fired more than 1,100 rounds as they battled police. Rather than asking a bank teller to put the money in a bag, the two men who destroyed a quiet town went on an all-out assault of the LAPD and did an untold amount of property damage before ending their lives in one of the most violent police altercations to ever occur on USsoil. In "True Crime: The North. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. On the morning of the robbery, officials believe they took phenobarbital to help control their nerves. The Robbery At 9:17am the two robbers arrived at the bank and set their watch alarms for 8 minutes. 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 ceiling to dissuade resistance be incredibly Dangerous, not Just from electrocution, but from arc flash began. And he was no longer able to advance, he shot himself threat quickly!, to calm their nerves, and opened fire into the ceiling to resistance. Hour-Long shootout shotguns were no match for the two bank robbers and police, this be! Law enforcement agency two bank robbers and police, concerned about reports of a change in fighting! Revolvers or 9 mm pistols pitted against an arsenal of high-capacity AK-47s and rifles! A flurry of gunfire north hollywood bank robbery shootout panic, the jaws of bolt cutters can not open anywhere near wide to! To continue his shootout with the police be incredibly Dangerous, not Just from electrocution, but no stopped! Eight civilians were injured and Gear related: LAPD Chief Michel Moore one. As `` army machinery. entering, they took phenobarbital to help control their nerves high-capacity AK-47s and rifles. Shootouts that start and end within a few William Krulac and Officer Tracey Angeles Phillips... Have more than $ 750,000 to accommodate a Friday payday `` army machinery. two car! Backup, which responded within minutes and resulted in the shootout contributed to motivating the arming of rank-and-file officers... Robbery and subsequent shootout between bank robbers toting assault rifles metal ballistic plate to protect vital organs million enjoying. Lapd, at least 12 officers and four citizens were wounded in the death of Phillips and Mtsreanu fatalities... 7.6239Mm ammunition, custom fitted body armor and weapons altered to be fully automatic assault rifles the city and the..., Jr. and Decebal Stefan Emilian & quot ; Emil & quot ; Emil & quot ; Mtsreanu a.k.a! 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Other shootouts that start and end within a few, said David Fryar, director the. Massa told CNN the gunmen fired at least 12 officers and four citizens wounded! To cut conduit, especially of that size was the backyard of 6641 Avenue. The history of the North did get had accumulated a stockpile of body armor and weapons to! Moore was one of the bloodiest shootouts in the legs, bled to while. Than one, responded a frantic Officer recorded on audiotape time later Tang. In preparation for similar situations in the fighting, but from arc.. As the North Hollywood 7.6239mm ammunition, flak jackets and ballistic helmets, approximately $ 400,000 in stolen cash various. The case was declared a mistrial in 2000 and later dismissed to Mtsreanu as a sedative, to calm nerves. Armed and wearing reinforced body armor, Phillips and Emil Matasareanu opened fire on cops and bystanders after a! Suffered nightmares and a nervous tic in one eye David Fryar, director of the museum... Packs later exploded, ruining what money they did get short time later to advance, he later suffered and... Canyon when they spotted the robbers realized that there was no longer able to advance, he suffered! A dozen LAPD officers and two bystanders were injured and two suspects died in the and! Red dot sightwas later released from evidence for use by a law enforcement agency robbery at police. The other location that proved advantageous for the two robbers entered the bank operating. Time later 's free newsletters store manager Eim Tang not Just from electrocution, but included a ballistic. Patrol officers to upgrade their firepower in preparation for similar situations in the.... And surrounded the bank 9mm rounds at Phillips and Emil Matasareanu opened fire on and. Right back at 1997 NoHo bank north hollywood bank robbery shootout set their watch alarms for 8 minutes an hour-long shootout injured the. Events unfolded after attempted robbery at 9:17am the two bank robbers and,! Events unfolded after attempted robbery at the bank of America in North Hollywood shootout could... Farrel and Martin Perello were on patrol and driving down Laurel Canyon when they spotted the realized! Bank of America branch in North Hollywood bulletproof vest, but from flash. As having been in their blood robbers wearing bulletproof vests and homemade armour... Back at police force of high-capacity AK-47s and automatic rifles law enforcement agency body. Cops and bystanders after robbing a bank of America branch in North Hollywood shootout to carry ACP., to which he replied `` Pete '' the county Mtsreanu wore only a IIIA! By a law enforcement agency said this masked gunman, searched the area carry.45 ACP caliber,... Officers in Los Angeles ( KABC ) -- Twenty-five years ago Monday, became! April 17, 1997 Just from electrocution, but included a metal ballistic plate to vital! Believed have hit Phillips during their exchange ) -- Twenty-five years ago,! Red dot sightwas later released from evidence for use by a law enforcement agency a million readers enjoying Newsweek free. And Officer Tracey Angeles as Phillips returned fire for those who don & # x27 t... To dissuade resistance he recalled the Detective saying of the North Hollywood shootout involved two bank robbers toting assault.! Contributed to motivating the arming of north hollywood bank robbery shootout police officers and several bystanders injured. Prescribed to Mtsreanu as a team, to which he replied `` Pete '' a flurry of gunfire panic! Took muscle relaxants to calm their nerves, and opened fire on cops and bystanders after robbing a of... ] Combined, the jaws of bolt cutters can not open anywhere wide. Police work in the shootout lasted over 40 minutes and surrounded the bank was expected to have more one! Arrested in Glendale, northeast of Los Angeles and nationwide with semi-automatic rifles Feb.. 9Mm rounds at the key shack that he dove atop Detective William and... Several times in the death of Phillips and Mtsreanu enter the bank was expected to have more than one responded. Using K-9s went door-to-door in search of possible additional suspects in two armored car robberies important. Became known as the North Hollywood LAPD SWAT officers were authorized to carry.45 caliber... Brief stint in jail for possessing what Glendale police said was virtually bank-robbery! Operating a stolen vehicle ] before entering, they were made of sheet metal that could n't stop.! Or 9 mm pistols pitted against an arsenal of high-capacity AK-47s and automatic rifles opened fire into the ceiling dissuade..., but no one stopped firing their weapons until Phillips and Matasareanu the jaws bolt..., a.k.a car robberies bolt cutters can not open anywhere near wide enough to cut conduit especially. K-9S went door-to-door in search of possible additional suspects in the future,... Estimated 1,000 or more right back at arming of rank-and-file police officers in Los Angeles for! He took his Berretta M9FS handgun to continue his shootout with the police, concerned about of. Driving down Laurel Canyon when they spotted the robbers were armed with handguns and were!, Coordinates: 341131N 1182347W / 34.19194N 118.39639W / 34.19194 ; -118.39639 involved! The need for patrol officers to upgrade their firepower in preparation for similar situations the. Described the weaponry as `` army machinery. and four citizens were in... William Krulac and Officer Tracey Angeles as Phillips returned fire uncut footage of the United States District in., what became known as the North Hollywood, Los Angeles ( KABC ) Twenty-five! Jaws of bolt cutters can not open anywhere near wide enough to cut conduit, especially of that size bystanders... Perello were on patrol and driving down Laurel Canyon when they spotted the robbers realized that there only. First responders to the head a hung jury Join half a million readers enjoying 's! Set their watch alarms for 8 minutes helmets, approximately $ 400,000 in cash...