The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center in Westchester, Los Angeles is on lockdown today as police respond to reports of a late-night armed robbery and hostage situation at Nordstrom Rack. A SWAT team is on the scene and people at a nearby Rave Cinemas are not allowed to leave during the standoff.
is stuck in the locked-down Rave Cinemas while LAPD SWAT conducts an action at the Howard Hughes Center…
— Eric Mark (@EgcM) January 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/andrewdayrit/status/289663043670011904
http://instagram.com/p/UVo8yyEINE/
Rave cinemas keeping patrons in to watch zero dark thirty and gangster squad. Nice of them but definitely ironic – cops or terrorists?
— Jack Sheehan (@jackjsheehan) January 11, 2013
There may be 200 people inside the movie theaters.
WCHESTER: LAPD may leave 200 ppl inside movie theaters. Don't want 200 folks caught in any crossfire. #Hostage #NRack
— @LAScanner (@LAScanner) January 11, 2013
One Twitter user says he is with the mother of an employee being held hostage at Nordstrom Rack:
@PamelaChelin employee her mother is waiting
— Domo (@MomCallsMeDom) January 11, 2013
@PamelaChelin employee her mother is waiting
— Domo (@MomCallsMeDom) January 11, 2013
@PamelaChelin hostage mom siting next to us devastated an we tried to calm her down me @OG_Spoon and @moecrazy59 went to her
— Domo (@MomCallsMeDom) January 11, 2013
Reports from others on the scene:
https://twitter.com/andrewdayrit/status/289695135070044160
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@richardrushfield Went to leave and the employees told us the promenade is on lock down and no one could leave. Aftr that they spilt us up
— Simeon Campbell (@Simisim04) January 11, 2013
@PattiPMS57 No they close at 10pm. They came in after they where closed. We are still on lock down.
— Simeon Campbell (@Simisim04) January 11, 2013
@PamelaChelin Yes we want to get out! They won't let us!
— Simeon Campbell (@Simisim04) January 11, 2013
@BuzzFeedEnt Seeing big flashing lights like an explosion. It stopped now so hope they got in !
— Simeon Campbell (@Simisim04) January 11, 2013
@PamelaChelin explosion just went off
— Domo (@MomCallsMeDom) January 11, 2013
This moviegoer appears to have made it out of the theater before the lockdown.
Our Movie stopped at theater in building next to nordstroms hostage situation. We ran through exit. Safe now
— Bonn Lahouti (@blahouti) January 11, 2013
bomb squad and special tactics unit here. They just rolled out the bomb robot. Over 14 heavily armed police left the building 5 min ago
— Bonn Lahouti (@blahouti) January 11, 2013
Twitchy will monitor this developing story and update as more information becomes available.
Update:
Unconfirmed reports indicate 14 hostages have been rescued and no arrests have been made.
LAPD Media Relations update on the Nordstrom Rack hostage situation at Howard Hughes Pkwy. 14 hostages rescued. No arrests #GoodDealsBadGuys
— Russell Stevens (@RussellCStevens) January 11, 2013
LAPD giving statement to media regarding 14 employees held and recovered at hostage site at Nordstrom Rack
— Venice 311 (@Venice311) January 11, 2013
Update:
#UPDATE #NORDSTROMRACK hostages are safe #LAPD is actively searching for suspects. Watch @ktlamorningnews starting right now for the latest!
— KTLA NEWS DESK (@KTLAnewsdesk) January 11, 2013
LAPD not releasing anyone or any officers, they have a second crime location they are working up at the moment.
— Venice 311 (@Venice311) January 11, 2013
Update:
The theater lockdown is still in effect:
@manolocontrabaj They just told us that they are looking for them which tells me they really caught them! This is the 5th hour + on Lock!
— Simeon Campbell (@Simisim04) January 11, 2013
Audience stuck inside Rave Cinema are being told they'll be able to leave in 30 min.
— Tessa Stuart (@tessastuart) January 11, 2013
The latest details on the incident:
https://twitter.com/PamelaChelin/status/289708653890633730
https://twitter.com/PamelaChelin/status/289708917641060352
https://twitter.com/PamelaChelin/status/289709096200986624
https://twitter.com/PamelaChelin/status/289709268159037440
https://twitter.com/PamelaChelin/status/289709398048256001
https://twitter.com/PamelaChelin/status/289709662809497600
https://twitter.com/PamelaChelin/status/289710472423424000
People at the theater are being released.
https://twitter.com/PamelaChelin/status/289709528403042304
@PamelaChelin They just told us that LAPD is going to come in a escort people to their cars! Thank You !
— Simeon Campbell (@Simisim04) January 11, 2013
The latest on injuries: One hostage was reportedly stabbed and another was sexually assaulted.
https://twitter.com/KFINEWS/status/289734264138911745
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