Witnesses ran for cover as armored guards exchanged gunfire with robbers at a casino. While stopping at the Hustler Casino in Gardena Thursday, two armored truck security guards were unexpectedly surprised by shooters, said police.
During the shootout with the thieves, one of the guards was shot, said Lt. Christopher Cuff with the Gardena Police Department.
“From what I understand, as soon as they got out of the [armored truck] they were met with gunfire,” Cuff said.
Armed with handguns and at least one rifle, the suspects escaped with an unknown amount of money, he said.
One of the armed guards returned fire, causing the suspects, who did not enter the casino, to flee, Cuff said. As a result of “cuts and multiple lacerations,” a second armed guard was injured, he added.
The suspects were not caught. The only description the police could obtain was that they were clad in dark-colored clothing. While the robbery was in progress, The Hustler Casino was open, and several witnesses ran inside the building to escape the carnage.
After receiving reports of gunfire, Gardena police and Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene around 10:30 a.m.
According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, emergency responders transported the victims to a local hospital a little after 10:30 a.m. The condition of the victims was unknown.
Employees were escorted out of the building and an armored vehicle, helicopter footage from several news stations reported. According to emergency scanner updates, police continue to search the area and have no description of the suspects.
Around 12:10 p.m., a building down the street from the casino on South Vermont Avenue was engulfed by police in riot gear. Witnesses claim they saw a suspect running towards the building, although it was not clear if a suspect was inside, stated emergency scanner dispatches.
