North Hollywood shooting February 28, 1997

Hello to my whole steemit community. Two days ago I did not publish content and the cause was that I was having problems with the internet. Actually, here in my country, Venezuela is a common problem. Most Venezuelans are having difficulties with the Internet. But there's no need to worry, I'm back to what's most important.

Today I share this tragedy that happened in the year 1997

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The shooting of North Hollywood happened in Los Angeles, California, United States on February 28, 1997. It was the largest armed confrontation of a police force in the United States.

Two heavily armed bank robbers, armed with assault weapons and bulletproof protections, clashed with officers of the Los Angeles Police Department. About 2,000 shots were fired and there were 18 wounded between agents and passers-by, finally the two robbers died.

Approximately at 09.30 in the morning Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Matasareanu (a Romanian raised in the US and the son of political dissidents) entered a Bank of America office in North Hollywood with the intention of robbing her. As soon as they left, they confronted dozens of police officers who had been notified of the attempted theft and an intense shooting began. This continued through the residential area around the bank until Phillips, surrounded and seriously injured, decided to commit suicide. A few blocks away Matasareanu was finally mortally wounded. In addition to the two robbers, eleven policemen and seven civilians were injured. Most of the shooting was broadcast live by news helicopters.

Larry Phillips Jr

Emil Matasareanu

Phillips and Matasareanu met at a gym in Venice (Los Angeles) in 1989 and shared their interest in bodybuilding and firearms. On July 20, 1993, they began their criminal career by stealing an armored van in Littleton, Colorado. In October of that year they were arrested for speeding, in the registration of the vehicle they were found 2 semiautomatic weapons, 2 pistols, 1,600 cartridges caliber 7.62, 1,200 cartridges 9mm Parabellum, radio scanners, smoke bombs, explosive devices, bulletproof vests and 3 different license plates. They were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery but after 100 days behind bars they were released and, most surprisingly, they were returned most of their arsenal.

On June 14, 1995, another armored vehicle was stolen, killing one of the guards. Almost a year later, in May 1996, two Bank of America branches landed with approximately 1.5 million dollars. They were considered by the investigators as very dangerous robbers because of the weapons they carried and the violence they used in their robberies.

On the morning of February 28, 1997, after months of preparation, including various surveillance, Phillips and Matasareanu loaded 5 rifles with about 3,000 cartridges in normal and drum-type loaders with greater capacity in the trunk of their vehicle. The weaponry they carried included a modified AIM Romanian assault rifle, an AK-47, an S-1 Chinese copy of the AK-47, a HK-41 and a Bushmaster M4 carbine. Phillips also had a Beretta 9mm pistol. The bulletproof protection that each one carried, covering them with the greatest art of the body, weighed 18 kgs and they took metal plates to protect vital organs. To calm the nerves before leaving, they had taken barbiturates.

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When they arrived in the vicinity of the branch they were going to steal, they synchronized their clocks and put the alarm on the stopwatch in 8 minutes, which was the estimated time it would take the police to respond. But as they entered the office with ski masks and fully armed they were seen by two agents, who immediately called for reinforcements.

Once inside the bank Phillips and Matasareanu, with the intention of paralyzing clients and personnel, they fired 150 shots at the ceiling and managed to get a $ 300,000 loot, less than expected.

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By the time they left the office, at 09.38 as planned, they found dozens of agents waiting for them and opened fire on them. The exchange of gunfire was intense, but the policemen were not able to shoot down the suspects. After 8 minutes of hard shooting, and having already many injured, the two robbers tried to flee with their car. Matasareanu was driving and Phillips was walking alongside the vehicle firing. 18 minutes after the start of the shooting a SWAT team armed with MP-5 and AR-15 arrived at the scene. They were doing sports when they were alerted and did not have time to change. Just to take the weapons and protections.

At 09.51 Phillips, who was using the escape vehicle as cover, separates from Matasareanu and undertakes a flee on foot while continuing to fire at the agents. Finally, cornered and wounded, in an act of desperation, he points his pistol against his chin and shoots himself, ending his life.

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Meanwhile Matasareanu tried to flee in the vehicle but it was riddled and with the wheels punctured. He leaves and picks up a truck, moving weapons and ammunition, but when he tries to pull it out he realizes that the owner in his flight had taken the keys. At that moment a car with several SWAT agents makes its appearance and there is a strong shooting. After six minutes of exchange of shots Matasareanu raises his arms and decides to surrender, being already seriously injured. The ambulance took 70 minutes to arrive and by then Matasareanu had bled to death. Later you will find 29 shots in the shins and feet.

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The police officers who intervened were armed with 9mm or .38 special pistols and some had 12-gauge shotguns in patrol cars. Phillips and Matasareanu had automatic weapons with ammunition capable of penetrating police bulletproof vests. They also had bulletproof military-style protection that covered almost the entire body. During the street shooting, since officers were unable to shoot down the two men or pass through their protections, some policemen went to a nearby armory and borrowed several AR-15 assault rifles to confront the police. assailants Finally the SWAT would arrive in support with appropriate armament. This incident meant that, later, patrollers were provided with different police forces with more powerful weapons to deal with this type of situation.

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Well here culminates this famous tragedy that happened more than 20 years ago. For those who do not know her, I invite you to meet her.

The truth is that it is surprising that things like this happen and knowing that only two people committed this theft.

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Through the comments you can tell me what you think about this crime.