Hostages share tales of terror, heroism during Trader Joe's standoff
Hostages recount the chilling details about what actually happened inside the California store and how they were able to get out alive
On a beautiful July Saturday in 2018, an ordinary shopping trip at a Trader Joe's store in Los Angeles turned into a terrifying hostage situation. A gunman had shot his grandmother and then kidnapped his girlfriend before crashing his car into the store and exchanging gunfire with police. Store manager Melyda Corado was killed when struck by a police bullet.
Trapped inside the store with about 30 other people, the hostages faced intense gunfire and the threat of their own deaths. Lynne Westafer, Arta Gjonbalaj, MaryLinda Moss, and Cory Page were among those who described the chaos and terror of the ordeal. The gunman demanded the removal of a sharpshooter on a nearby roof, threatening to shoot someone if his demand was not met.
In the harrowing moments, the hostages were instructed to take cover and remain silent. The LAPD SWAT team surrounded the store, providing cover and strategic positions. As the gunman counted down, hostages held their breath in anticipation. The situation unfolded as a tense standoff, with hostages united in the desperate goal of surviving the ordeal.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
