14 freed in Los Angeles store hostage situation

USPA News - Two gunmen remain at large after holding fourteen people hostage at a clothing store in southern California, local authorities said Friday. At least fourteen people were held hostage by two black males who entered a Nordstrom Rack store located at Howard Hughes Center near the 405 freeway in Westchester, California, a suburban neighborhood in western Los Angeles, on Thursday night.

Authorities received the first call regarding the hostage situation at around 11:20 p.m. ocal time. Lieutenant Andy Neiman from the Los Angeles Police Department said two black men were involved in the situation, but remained at large, according to reports from KTLA. According to Neiman, one of the men was exiting the store when authorities arrived, but he ran back in after looking at the police who tried to contact him. Another man later came out with a woman, but he took her and forced her back in as well after looking out towards the police. The shopping center was soon surrounded by SWAT teams, who closed out the area. They then entered the store at around 3:30 a.m. local time and found fourteen hostages inside a storage room. Two people were found hiding in the bathroom. No injuries were reported, and the area was re-opened. However, the two suspects were able to escape the scene at some time and are still being sought for.