Haha ... I really was trapped. Here’s the synopsis I sent a friend yesterday:
Well, I’ll tell you all about it.
But ... you know I bought the new house and am trying to sell the old one. My realtor called Saturday morning and wanted a key so I decided to got down to Baller Hardware to haver it made.
Afterwards I decided to stop at Trader Joe’s for the usual grocery stop.
I snagged a spot just a few feet from there door. The cleaners at the old house cleaned out all of the food, even full, unopened bottles ... so I needed staples. I got in a line further back to check out. My check came to $114, the most I have ever spent there. I had paid and you know how the guy at the register kinda turns your cart so that you can then go to the parking lot?
Well, at that very point, two gun shots hit really close to me. And I thought, “Shit ... that was loud and CLOSE”. Someone yelled “DROP”, I dropped to the floor in the aisle. I looked up and right next to my cart was a large black guy covered in blood from the top of his head to his white tennis shoes. I thought, “wow, that must be the guy who was just shot”. But then I noticed his arms were folded and he kept pulling his handgun out of his shirt an inch or two. In and out.
I realized what was happening. I decided to text out but someone went up the aisle shouting, “anyone seen using their phone will be shot”. I stopped. I laid there thinking the police would arrive in minutes and arrest him. After awhile I scooted to the next register and there was a young 20 year old TJ employee named Hector. I grabbed his hand and we held hands until we couldn’t anymore. He was a lovely young man.
A woman next to me went to help the gunman who was shaking like crazy from being shot. They were about 5 or 6 feet away. I was at the register on the floor next to Hector, the gunman was sitting on the big boxes of sparkling water lining the wall, the lady helping him sitting next to him. They snagged medication and Jim Beam from the shelves to quell his pain. The shooter then made Hector come up to join them. Hector went up there and never returned to me.
At that point i was wondering where the police were. At the same time people who were not close to the shooter [I was still about 6 feet away] were escaping through the front door … there were about 5 of us who were right in front of him. i could not see anyone else in the store but figured there must be people hiding in other parts of the store in the back. The shooter never moved from that seat the whole time … so I never could get away.
I started analyzing Trader Joe’s soundtrack. Morbid thoughts crept in and I figured I’d spent so. much time in Trader Joe’s, maybe it was fitting and right that my life end there too.
i leaned on the register wall by the floor …. my moving around caused the shooter to hear the keys on the lanyard jingling around my neck. He ordered Hector to take my keys from me. He walked over, removed my lanyard and tossed it on the table by the register where they bag the groceries.
All this time the shooter was negotiating with the police over his cell phone. He was mad because he wanted to talk to his grandmother who he shot 7 times that morning. Later the police told me they tried to get the call to happen but the grandmother was in the hospital in surgery and could not talk.
He would get very mad and shout and told the police he was going to “shoot us one by one” … then he’d hang up and start a verbal countdown.
After awhile, the police for the first time decided to be seen. They got a huge police tank and drove it right up to Trader Joe’s window. There was a policeman with a big grin on in face in full tactical gear on,. a helmet and assault rifle. He parked at Trader Joe’s window and just sat.
The shooter also saw police with rifles on the cheese store, next door. He got on the negotiating phone and yelled that the police were escalating the situation and yelled that he was going to kill us one by one.
The police at the front window now had.a clear shot at the shooter who was still sitting on the soda cartons in front. He told us the he was moving to my register and he wanted everyone to surround him very close. i had been sitting on the floor, avoiding eye contact with my hands, palms up on my knees. He sat next to me touching. He was shivering from shock of his wounds … his jacket kept falling off so i would adjust it over his shoulders when it fell off.
Eventually, the woman who was helping him with his wounds eventually announced that they were going to release a hostage. She mentioned that he wanted to release the “elderly woman among us” ME!!!!
I was stunned but did not move a muscle. Hector came over and held out his hand to help me get up off the floor as i have a very hard time walking. The shooter told Hector to go up one aisle, me another. Hector went before me and jumped up on the plant stands in the front and pushed the button to open the door.
I realized the policeman in the tank was wildly gesturing to get out fast and turn left. I did and there was a sea of over 50 officers in full battle gear. I flopped against the wall and they peppered me with questions,”how many hostages, where was everyone seated and on and on so that they could storm the building.
[i was held hostage over 3 hours]
Eventually they took me to triage for medical treatment … I can’t really walk but they got me all the way to the parking lot at 7-11 and dId 2 EKGs. i stayed there at least an hour. They told me to go to the church next door for a meeting. Eventually they got me a wheelchair and took me. Mayor Garcetti was there and I let him know i was mad that i could not have my car or keys to get home,. i had no way home.
I’ll try to make this short: the police drove me home at 11:30, I had to call a locksmith to get in as i had no keys, I had to get escrow papers to prove it was mine since i just moved in.
The next morning, the police allowed me to pick up my car. They sent me a photo of my keys on the register and I claimed them when I went. There were about 70 detectives working the scene i was interviewed on several TV stations and had interviews with police detectives.
A few minutes ago Trader Joes called and said they had gotten hotel rooms for their Silverlake employees, they were having bonding sessions and services for the young female manager who was shot dead. They called to return my $114.00. They are coming by to give the check to me.
And two police just showed up the the door minutes ago.
WOW, Bunny Slippers! You did an awesome job of retelling your story!!!!!
I wish every Freeper would read your account.
It is chilling. God was with you.
Tell us more when you get a chance. What are the police doing now.
Many blessings to you.
I’m glad to hear you got your car and keys back already.
My heart goes out to you, Bunny.
What a harrowing and frightening experience.
So sorry for the young women who lost her life and for the LEO who was responsible.
I, my husband, and youngest son witnessed an armed robbery years ago.
Hubby is retired law enforcement, he grabbed the back of our shirts and had us slowly walk backwards until we were out of the perps vision and then we ran out back door tripping the alarm.
I was so shook up, was worthless in being able to tell police anything, hubby was a great witness.
This was nothing in comparison to what you just experienced.
May God bless you and please reach out for help if you have any residual effects.
Good job Bunny...
If I didn’t live in Canada and you weren’t too much woman for me, I’d invite you to ride a horse with me through Kananaskis Country and I’d watch you fight a grizzley. ;)
Stay tough, young lady!
BunnySlippers, I can’t imagine what you are still going through. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. How are you sleeping?