Glendora Police were involved in an officer shootout when a robbery suspect opened fire on officers at the Ralphs grocery store, 655 S. Grand Ave.
The suspect had been involved in an earlier armed robbery at Kohl’s, 1225 S. Lone Hill, according to a police press statement.
Saturday at 4:05 p.m., Glendora Police responded to an armed robbery call at. The suspect, described as a male Hispanic around 30 years of age, had gone into the store and displayed a hand gun while demanding cash from an employee at the register.
The suspect fled with an unknown amount of cash before police arrived.
With investigative leads and eyewitness accounts, Glendora officers identified the suspect and the Honda Accord vehicle he was driving. Police went to his residence in Glendora but did not immediately find the suspect.
Saturday at 10 p.m. officers received a tip that the suspect was on foot in the area of Grand and Route 66. Officers responded to the location and found the suspect in the parking lot of .
The suspect shot at officers who returned fire. The suspect was injured in the exchange, taken into custody in the grocery store and transported to a nearby hospital. The suspect was struck once in the upper body and is currently listed in critical condition.
No officers or bystanders were injured in the shooting.
"The Ralphs was crowded,'' said sheriff's Lt. John Corina, speaking at the scene of the shooting. ``It was full of people shopping at the time, and the suspect was firing from behind the check stands at the officer as he entered the store.''
Ralphs customer Paul Pinkus was in the parking lot during the shooting when he heard the loud gunshots. The first thing he saw was a man running from officers and opening fire. While others in the store hit the floor for protection, Pinkus said he leaned against a wall and hoped not to get hit by the gunfire.
"By the time the officers entered the building and the whole shooting, everything was over in less than two minutes," said Pinkus, who came back to the scene of the crime Sunday morning to retrieve his vehicle from the parking lot.
The Ralphs store was closed Sunday morning during the police investigation. Management said the store will reopen to the public by afternoon.
Sheriff's detectives are handling the investigation, Glendora police Lt. Rob Lamborghini said.
City News Service contributed to this report.
To whom ever the officer is, my family is truly appreciative of your actions, and dedication to keeping the residents of Glendora safe. A thank you to all the officer’s involved, GREAT JOB!