Armed suspect shot dead in gunfire exchange with Anaheim Police

ByOwen Michael and ABC7.com staff KABC logo
Friday, September 19, 2014
Suspect Paul Marval III is seen in a booking photo (L); A suspect briefly exits SUV he's hiding inside in Anaheim (C); SUV's passenger window later blown out by "pepper-ball" (R).
Suspect Paul Marval III is seen in a booking photo (L); A suspect briefly exits SUV he's hiding inside in Anaheim (C); SUV's passenger window later blown out by "pepper-ball" (R).
KABC-KABC

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- An armed-robbery suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Anaheim SWAT officers during a standoff in an auto lot Friday afternoon.

The suspect had been hiding in a BMW SUV after allegedly robbing a Fry's Electronics store at 3370 E. La Palma Avenue in Anaheim at about 2 p.m.

The unidentified gunman fled the scene of the robbery in a 2012 black Honda Pilot with another suspect, who police identified as Paul Brian Marval III, 39, of Lake Elsinore. Detectives later learned the Pilot was stolen out of Corona.

The two suspects were involved in a traffic collision shortly after the robbery near Miraloma and Tustin avenues. They fled the scene on foot.

Witnesses directed a California Highway Patrol officer to Marval, who was unarmed. He was quickly taken into custody. Marval faces charges of robbery, attempted burglary, probation violation and possession of a stolen vehicle. His bail was set at $10,000.

Police set up a perimeter and searched the industrial area for the second suspect. Officers searched a Manheim California auto auctions lot on the 1300 block of Tustin Avenue at Miraloma Avenue and located the suspect inside a BMW SUV. The suspect refused to surrender.

A cloud of smoke appeared on the passenger side of the SUV at about 4:25 p.m. It was unclear if a gunshot was fired in or out of the vehicle. The passenger-side window could be seen with a shattered hole in the glass.

A SWAT armored vehicle pulled up behind the SUV. At about 4:40 p.m., several puffs of smoke were seen on and around the SUV. Police said chemical-agent "pepper-balls" were fired into the SUV.

Multiple shots were fired from various angles at 5:27 p.m. Anaheim Police said the suspect suddenly began firing at officers, spurring the exchange of gunfire. The suspect was dead at the scene.

No other injuries were reported.

Security officers advised at least one local business to stay indoors during the active search. Security staff was actively monitoring the situation, according to a source that contacted Eyewitness News.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office is investigating the shooting.