Department store burglary incident

Officer Fernando Avila

Officer Peter Venderburgh

It was Sunday evening, September 30, 2001, and it appeared to be business as usual for the Macy’s Department store located in Woodland Hills.

Just after 5 pm, two men walked into the department store and up to the fine jewelry counter seeking to purchase a ring. Suspect-1 told the sales clerk he had gotten into a fight with his girlfriend and wanted to buy a diamond ring to make up with her. The sales clerk noticed both men appeared drunk and smelled of alcohol. She had a bad feeling about the men so she asked them to wait and she went into a small office behind the jewelry case and called security. She told security there were two drunk men in her department and felt uncomfortable waiting on them.

Moments later, the department store manager arrived and the sales clerk asked him to wait on the suspect. Suspect-1 proceeded to tell the manager about his fight with his girlfriend and how he wanted to purchase a ring. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of hundred dollar bills, briefly showing them to the manager. The manager took a diamond ring out of the display case and placed it on the counter. Suddenly, the suspect picked up the ring, pulled a gun out of his pocket and pointed it at the manager shouting, “Give it all to me!”

The manager began removing jewelry items from the display case and handing them to the suspect, who in turn stuffed them into his pocket. He then turned toward the sales clerk, who was standing nearby, and yelled at her to empty out the cash register. Suspect-2, who had been pacing behind Suspect-1, placed a black plastic bag on the counter. Suspect-1 then began to put the jewelry inside the bag.

The sales clerk walked toward the register at the other end of the counter, but as she walked past the door of the office, she slipped inside, closed and locked the door and called 911. When he saw her slip into the office, Suspect-2 walked past the counter toward some department store exit doors and began to pace nervously.

Realizing that the sales clerk had locked herself in the office, Suspect-1 began to grab jewelry with a sense of urgency. He placed the gun on top of the counter so he could use both hands. Realizing a short window of opportunity, the store manager grabbed the gun off the counter and stepped back against the rear wall and out of Suspect-1’s reach.

Without warning, Suspect-1 jumped over the counter and began to fight for the gun with the store manager. The suspect and manager exchanged punches as the manager fought to keep control of the weapon. During the struggle, a shot was fired but luckily no one was hit. Suspect-2 then ran out of the department store.

Suspect-1 was able to gain control of the gun and pointed it at the manager’s head. He yelled “give me more, give me more” and the store manager again began removing jewelry from the display case and handing it to the suspect.

LAPD Communications Division broadcast a “robbery in progress” and noted that one of the suspects was struggling with the manager and shots were fired.

Officer Peter Vanderburgh and Officer Fernando Avila were the first police unit to arrive at the scene. The two officers had never worked together. Officer Avila was one month off his probationary period and Officer Vanderburgh had more than 30 years of experience with the Department.

The radio call reporting the armed robbery in progress was the officers’ second call that fateful day.

Officers Vanderburgh and Avila entered the store and made their way toward the jewelry department. They could hear the suspect yelling and saw him pointing the gun at the store manager’s head.

Armed with a 9-millimeter Beretta semiautomatic and a 12-gauge shotgun, Officers Vanderburgh and Avila slowly approached the suspect and the store manager. They identified themselves as police officers and ordered the suspect to drop the gun and raise his hands. The suspect turned and pointed his gun at the two officers.

Fearing for their lives and the lives of the Macy’s employees, Officers Vanderburgh and Avila opened fire and hit the suspect. Officer Vanderburgh continued to order the suspect to drop his gun, but he did not. Officer Vanderburgh fired a second shot at the suspect, forcing him backwards against the wall. Still standing, the suspect was again ordered to drop his weapon. The suspect ignored the commands and again pointed his gun at both officers.

Still fearing for their lives, Officer Vanderburgh fired a third round at the suspect. He fell to the floor behind the counter, still clutching the gun. The suspect brought the gun to his mouth and it appeared he was going to shoot himself. Instead, he took the gun from his mouth and pointed it again toward the officers. Officer Vanderburgh fired a fourth shot at the suspect, causing him to finally drop the weapon. Officer Avila then approached the suspect and handcuffed him.

Officer Vanderburgh and Officer Avila are commended for their selfless courage and bravery. Their actions in the face of imminent peril are the result of a level of gallantry not seen in your average individual.