The bullet that killed the store manager of a Trader Joe’s where a suspected murderer took hostages and barricaded himself came from a police firearm, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officers were attempting to arrest Gene Atkins, who had allegedly shot his grandmother hours earlier and had repeatedly fired on pursuing officers chasing him through Hollywood and Silver Lake, according to the Los Angeles Times.
During the kidnapping and standoff, the suspect and officers exchanged gunfire, with at least one of the officers’ rounds striking store manager Melyda Corado.
Chief Michel Moore said, “I know that it’s every officerās worst nightmare to hurt an innocent bystander during a violent engagement. I spoke with the officers this morning ā they’re devastated. They were devastated in the immediate aftermath of this event.”
Atkins was taken into custody, and is being held on $9 million bail. He faces felony charges of murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping.
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