[4], On April 17, 1997, police raided a house in Anaheim traced to Phillips and Mtsreanu. However, as Phillips was a convicted felon it was not possible for him to legally purchase firearms. I watched this on cable the other night and was very pleasantly surprised. Robbery. Seeing no way to get away the men opened fire on the crowd of police officers. In addition, the jaws of bolt cutters cannot open anywhere near wide enough to cut conduit, especially of that size. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. [3] Combined, the two men had fired approximately 1,100 rounds in total, while approximately 650 rounds were fired by police. RELATED: LAPD Chief Michel Moore looks back at 1997 NoHo bank robbery. Phillips was shot nearly a dozen times. All rights reserved. Phillips took cover behind a truck and continued to fire his rifle at police until it jammed. Accesat n 25 martie 2008. In less than one hour, Phillips and Matasareanu tried to kill 64 police officers and 18 innocent bystanders. During a later lawsuit against retired policemen John Futrell and James Vojtecky and the city, jurors heard testimony that involved an ambulance crew that arrived but left without Mtsreanu after Vojtecky allegedly told the crew to "get the (expletive) out of here." In "True Crime: The North. LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- A blaze of automatic gunfire ripped through a crowded neighborhood after several heavily-armed gunmen dressed like commandos botched a bank robbery. See production, box office & company info, The Screen Junkies Show: Greatest Movie Bank Robbery Ever, Number of real LAPD Officers used as extras: 35, Number of rounds of blank ammunition fired: 40,000, Amount of theatrical blood used: 10 gallons. Los Angeles, once known as the bank-robbery capital of the world with up to 900 heists in 1992, according to the FBI, had 11 such heists last year after police tactics developed after the infamous shootout were implemented. Phillips wore roughly 40 pounds (18kg) of equipment, including a Type IIIA bulletproof vest and groin guard; a load bearing vest with multiple military ammo pouches; and several pieces of homemade body armor created from spare vests, covering his shins, thighs, and forearms. Apparently enraged to find only $350,000 in its coffers, they beat a bank branch officer. "[21] before he and Mtsreanu opened fire into the ceiling in an attempt to scare the approximately thirty bank staff and customers and to discourage resistance. [33], Most of the incident, including the death of Phillips and surrender of Mtsreanu, was broadcast live by news helicopters, which hovered over the scene and televised the action as events unfolded. According to KNBC News in Los Angeles, some officers attempted to get higher-caliber rifles from nearby gun stores to combat the assault rifles being used by the robbers. "We teach our officers to respond as a team. After firing a few more shots with one arm, Phillips discarded the HK-91 and retrieved the Norinco Type 56 before exiting the parking lot and retreating onto the street while Mtsreanu drove down the road. In "True Crime: The North Hollywood Shootout 25 Years Later," we take a look back at the chaos that unfolded on that day. [12][13], On June 14, 1995, Phillips and Mtsreanu ambushed a Brink's armored car in Winnetka, Los Angeles, killing one guard, Herman Cook, and seriously wounding another. All rights reserved, North Hollywood Shootout: Dramatic Images of the Bloody Gun Battle, North Hollywood Shootout: Officer Recalls Surviving Armor-Piercing Bullet Wounds, Avalanche Blocks Road in Mount Baldy Area After Cold Storm Drops Several Feet of Snow, 5 Freeway Closed North of LA Due to Snow and Poor Visibility, March 1983: The Day a Rare Tornado Rampaged Through Los Angeles, Early Risers Capture Dramatic Views of LA With Snow-Draped Mountains. That means, from the beginning of the siege, no one stopped firing their weapons until Phillips and Mtsreanuwere dead. And in a case of life imitating Hollywood, 14 months after the bank-robbing movie Heat, the shootout laid siege to North Hollywood. According to a National Geographic docuseries,Situation Critical, Mtsreanu was so upset about this development that he fired nearly 100 rounds into the vault, destroying whatever money remained. At 9:16 AM, Larry Philips Jr. and Emil Mtsreanu begun their robbery of Bank Of America's North Hollywood branch. What was meant to be a simple North Hollywood bank robbery became the catalyst for the militarization of American police forces and forever changed the face of daytime television. On the morning of February 28, 1997, two heavily armed men wearing body armor burst into a Bank of America branch, took a little more than $300,000 and fired their way out. [19], Phillips and Mtsreanu, driving a white 1987 Chevrolet Celebrity, arrived at the Bank of America branch at the intersection of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Archwood Street in North Hollywood around 9:16a.m., and set their watch alarms for eight minutes, the police response time they had estimated. Now with $303,305 and three dye packs in their possession the two men egressed the building. He was shot four times before leaping through an exploding glass doorway. Events unfolded after attempted robbery at the Bank of America branch in North Hollywood. On this day 25 years ago, two men attempted to rob a Bank of America in North Hollywood, California, and the incident is still considered one of the most violent shootouts in policing history. Zielenski fired 86 9mm rounds at Phillips and is believed have hit Phillips during their exchange. Phillips shouted, "This is a fucking hold-up! [43] Also as a result of this incident LAPD authorized its officers to carry .45 ACP caliber semi-automatic pistols as duty sidearms, specifically the Smith & Wesson Models 4506 and 4566. His partner, Officer Dean Schram, saved his life by drawing returning fire. Director Yves Simoneau Writer Tim Metcalfe Stars Michael Madsen It sounded like a war, like death, said Lopez, 58, who is now retired. It's alreadystaggering that nearly2,000 rounds of ammunition were fired in just 44 minutes, but what takes this over the top is that 1,100 of those rounds were fired by just two people: the perpetrators, Larry Phillips Jr.and Emil Mtsreanu. We have pea shooters compared to what these guys have.. After everything was over, I saw the bullet holes in my kiosk, and my arms started to swell, Haro, now retired and in ill health, told the Daily News a decade ago. They looked like zombies, no emotion. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Stunned police, residents cope with aftermath of L.A. shootout". and Privacy Policy. The North Hollywood siege ended at 10:01 a.m. As the gunfire suddenly ceased in front of her Archwood home, Anna Kazanchyan crouched inside with her two young children watching it play out on TV. At the end of that fateful day there were no fatalities except the robbers, though 18 people were injured in the assault. This film is a real cut above most cable fare and is really worth watching. They were only able to obtain $303,305 rather than the expected amount of $750,000. Officer Farell issued a call on the radio: "15-A-43, requesting assistance, we have a possible 211 in progress at the Bank of America." Phillips and Mtsreanu had robbed at least two other banks using similar methods for entry past "bullet-proof" security doors, taking control of the entire bank, and firing weapons illegally modified to enable fully automatic fire. Ive been shot, the dentist recalls Zboravan crying out atop the stairway. 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out is a 2003 American crime action television film directed by Yves Simoneau and written by Tim Metcalfe. believing he might be a suspect from the robbery less . [4], Seconds after Mtsreanu's capitulation, officers rushed him to pin him down. For 44 thunderous minutes, they marched through a neighborhood under siege, spraying stores, homes and cars with 1,100 armor-piercing bullets, wounding 11 police officers and six bystanders. The police radioed for an ambulance, but Mtsreanu, loudly swearing profusely and still goading the police to shoot him, died before the ambulance and EMTs were allowed to reach the scene almost 70 minutes later. Bobby Martinez: [shooting at Phillips] I'm hitting them, but they're not going down! He says the shootout had a major impact on police work in the city and across the country. It sounded like they were shooting at the house. Anderson fired his AR-15 below the cars and wounded Mtsreanu in his unprotected lower legs; he was soon unable to continue and put his hands up to show surrender. In this Picture from History, we explore the notorious North Hollywood Shootout in California in 1997 and the LAPD's response. The documentary style works well, and unlike most cops vs. robbers movies it shows the motivation and thoughts of the bad guys without glorifying them. Phillips walked down Archwood Street, continuing his gunbattle with police. According to LAPD, at least 12 officers and two bystanders were injured. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. Photo by David Crane. At 9:16a.m., Phillips and Mtsreanu entered and robbed Bank of America's North Hollywood branch. He shot himself in the head, but an autopsy report noted the coroner could not determine whether he or police fired the fatal shot. The two robbers entered the bank, ordered everyone to get on the floor, and opened fire into the ceiling to dissuade resistance. [50], Coordinates: 341131N 1182347W / 34.19194N 118.39639W / 34.19194; -118.39639. [23][24][25][26], Two locations adjacent to the bank's north parking lot provided good cover for officers and detectives. [14] In May 1996, they robbed two branches of Bank of America in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, stealing approximately US$1.5million. Phillips and Mtsreanu carried Norinco Type 56 rifles (a Chinese AK-47 variant), a Bushmaster XM-15 Dissipator with a 100-round drum magazine, and a Heckler & Koch HK91 rifle, all of which, except for the HK91, had been illegally modified to be select-fire capable, as well as a Beretta 92FS pistol. [4][5] Before meeting, Phillips was a habitual offender, responsible for multiple real estate scams and counts of shoplifting. The North Hollywood bank robbery shootout was one of LA's most prolific gun battles. After retrieving it, he placed the muzzle under his chin and fired. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. Larry Phillips Jr. committed suicide via a gunshot to the head. I cant forget that day, said Kazanchyan, now 49. Copyright 2023 Police1. "Feb. 28, 1997, is a date that will forever be etched in the annals of LAPD history as one of the most violent encounters Department officers ever endured. For their heroism, 19 officers would receive medals of valor. On the morning of the robbery, officials believe they took phenobarbital to help control their nerves. Twelve police officers and eight civilians were injured and two suspects died in the shootout. The two bank robbers, Larry Eugene Phillips Jr., 26, and Emil Matasareanu, 30, were killed. It was all broadcasted live on TV. In the end, the two left with $303,305 and three dye packs which later exploded, ruining the money they stole. The two robbers in body armor and ski masks emerged from the bank with guns blazing. Furthermore, the police were pinned down by fully automatic suppressive fire, making it difficult for them to execute the type of well-aimed return fire that would be required to attempt head shots. South of the bank, Carlos Lemus, an employee of the Goodyear tire shop, was walking toward its ATM when he realized hed forgotten his billfold. At 10:01 AM, February 28, 1997, a shootout between two heavily armed bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles police department came to an end after more than 2,000 rounds were fired. While speaking with CNN in 2017, former LAPD SWAT officer Rick Massa said that the two robbers "had no care for life.". If you look at the civilians who were injured, the policemen who were injured, the cars that were destroyed, it was amazing that nobody died., Request product info from top Police Body Armor companies. The gun battle lasted 44 minutes. NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Twenty-five years ago Monday, what became known as the North Hollywood shootout took place. and manufacturers. He was shot four times before leaping through an exploding glass doorway. Several officers acquired five AR-15-style rifles from a nearby gun store to combat the robbers. 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out TV Movie 2003 R 1 h 43 m IMDb RATING 6.3 /10 5.3K YOUR RATING Rate Play trailer 0:31 1 Video 11 Photos Action Crime Drama After a failed bank robbery, two heavily armed men hold the Los Angeles Police Department at bay for 44 minutes. Of their nearly 4,000 rounds of ammo, many were armor-piercing. Larry Phillips and Emil Matasareanu opened fire on cops and bystanders after robbing a Bank of America in North Hollywood. There was no time to be scared. Commonly known as the North Hollywood Bank of America Shootout, the incident quickly appeared on news channels throughout the nation as the drama unfolded," the Los Angeles Police Department said in 2010. . North Hollywood Bank Robbery Feb. 28, 1997: Los Angeles, Calif. Archived video from Feb. 28, 1997. DragonEye Tech: Leaders in LIDAR Speed Measurement, Get Curious Before Getting Furious: How Cynicism Impacts Behavior On Scene, More than 300 outgunned LEOs from five agencies, fighting for their lives, fired more than 550 rounds, By Dana Bartholomew Phillips was born in . Emil Mtsreanu tried to surrender, but eventually died of trauma and blood loss. The responding officers were carrying only pistols. 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