DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A suspected shoplifter was taken into custody at the end of an hourslong standoff =Tuesday afternoon, one day after he allegedly wounded two security guards in a shootout outside a Target store in downtown Los Angeles.
The barricade situation unfolded at an apartment building in the 1200 block of Ingraham Street, less than half-a-mile from where the shooting occurred Monday night.
The operation to apprehend the suspect began shortly after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told ABC7. Officers escorted him out of the building in handcuffs shortly after 4:30 p.m.
Video from AIR7 showed a large contingent of LAPD officers and an armored SWAT vehicle at the scene.
Monday's shooting happened just before 9 p.m. at the FIGat7th shopping center on Figueroa and Seventh streets.
During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, police officials said the suspect walked into the store and stuffed merchandise inside a briefcase before walking out without paying. That's when he was confronted by the security guards.
"During that scuffle, the suspect produced a pistol and fired indiscriminately," said LAPD Capt. Raul Jovel.
One of the security officers was armed and fired back. Over 10 rounds were fired in that confrontation, Jovel said.
It's unclear if the suspect was hit by any gunfire before he fled the scene.
Both security guards were taken to the hospital with gunshots wounds. One of them was shot in the stomach and remained in critical condition. The other was shot in the arm and leg, and is expected to survive.
"We are saddened by this horrible act of violence and our thoughts are with those who were injured, their friends and families," the Target Corporation said in a statement. "We appreciate the quick assistance of first responders and the Los Angeles Police Department. We are actively assisting with their investigation and will refer all additional questions to law enforcement. Our store is currently closed as we focus on supporting our team.
During the search, authorities released surveillance photos of the suspect, a man believed to be in his mid-20s, in the hopes that the public would recognize him. He had long hair in the photos but was visibly bald when he was apprehended Tuesday. Whether he had worn a wig earlier or shaved his head after the shooting was unclear.
Judith Conway told ABC7 she was waiting in the checkout line when she heard gunshots outside.
"[It was] extremely loud, extremely traumatic," she said. "We all just started running towards the back. We were guided by one of the sales reps, one of the cashiers I should say, at the front. But extremely traumatic, we heard several rounds go off, and we just pretty much ran towards the back and just left our items in the cart, and just tried to do the best that we could to get to safety."
She recalled seeing people crying and heard several others screaming.
"Some people were running towards the aisles, some people were hiding toward the clothes, everyone just started running and scattering in different directions," said Conway.