Five people wearing hoodies entered a jewelry store in Manhattan Beach, Calif., a little after lunchtime on Oct. 8 and reportedly began a “smash-and-grab” robbery, using hammers to strike the glass cases. An employee reacted by firing one shot toward the suspects, who then all fled the store and escaped in multiple vehicles. No employees were injured; it was unclear whether any of the suspects had been struck. No arrests had been made at the time of the reporting. (foxla.com, Los Angeles, Calif., 10/8/23)
A man returned to his home, where he lived with two women, the night of Sept. 19 in Mesa, Ariz., to find a U-Haul moving van outside and four masked robbers inside—two women and two men. The robbers reportedly attacked the resident, who drew his gun and fired once, striking the two female assailants, whereupon all the robbers fled. The man then found his two female roommates in the bathtub with several injuries from being beaten, pepper-sprayed and restrained with duct tape at their wrists, ankles, mouths and eyes. All four suspects had been identified by police, one suspect reportedly confessing, and the two female suspects were being treated for their gunshot wounds; charges were pending. It was also discovered during the investigation that one assailant had been in the home earlier in the day, pretending he wanted to do some work for the residents, and had unlocked the back sliding-glass door for easier entry when they knew the male resident had left and the two female residents were sleeping. Both of the female victims were expected to fully recover. (azfamily.com, Mesa, Ariz., 9/20/23)
