The man accused of shooting two security guards in downtown Los Angeles has been charged with eight charges, including attempted murder and robbery.
At a news conference on Friday, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges against 25-year-old Jabril Andrew Metoyer. The charges include attempted murder, robbery and attempted theft. He also faces special charges of personal use of a firearm and personal discharge of a firearm causing bodily harm.
“This morning, my office filed serious charges against a man accused of shoplifting at a Target store and then escalating his actions into a violent attack that left two security guards injured, one seriously, by gunfire” , Hochman said. “This type of blatant theft and violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County.”
Metoyer is being held on bail of more than $4 million. Hochman said he is expected to be arraigned sometime Friday.
“With the public’s assistance, in less than 24 hours after the incident, members of the LAPD Central Division and Metropolitan Division SWAT were able to arrest the suspect without incident and quickly remove this dangerous individual from our streets,” said LAPD Chief of Staff police, Jim McDonnell.
Metoyer was arrested Tuesday at his Westlake District apartment complex after an hours-long standoff with SWAT. McDonnell said SWAT used a chemical agent to take him into custody, but no force was used.
The shots were fired just before 9 p.m. Monday outside the store near 7th and Figueroa streets. According to the LAPD, the guards confronted Metoyer who attempted to leave with a suitcase containing stolen property.
According to police, CCTV footage from the store shows the man trying to walk out of the store.
“And during that scuffle, the suspect pulled out a handgun and fired indiscriminately, shooting two people,” LAPD Capt. Raul Jovel said during a news conference Tuesday. He said both individuals were seriously injured, with one of them released from emergency medical care on Tuesday morning, while the other person remained in hospital in critical condition.
In an effort to find the man, police quickly released images of him as well as a description of his physical appearance. They warned the public that he was believed to be “armed and dangerous.”
Jovel said the man fired at least five shots and one of the armed guards returned fire.
The LAPD said the man fled on a bicycle, but Jovel later clarified that it was believed he left on foot.
Hochman said Metoyer also allegedly shot a man who refused to give him money near 7th and Figueroa streets a few days before the shooting.
In November 2022, The FIGat7th shopping center was the scene of a random double stabbing incident. A 25-year-old woman and a 9-year-old boy were stabbed by a homeless man.
Jovel said the LAPD is committed to making the public feel safe and detaining those responsible for committing crimes.