Photo Courtesy: The Daily Titan
FULLERTON, Calif. (KTLA) — Classes resumed Thursday at Cal State Fullerton, after a roughly eight-hour lockdown as police searched for two possibly armed robbery suspects.
The lockdown ended just before midnight on Wednesday as students were allowed to return home, authorities said.
The two suspects who fled after a high-speed chase remained at large, however, and a contingent of police officers will remain on campus.
On Wednesday evening, police set up a perimeter around Mihaylo Hall, where students reported seeing at least one suspect moving through the halls.
SWAT team members conducted a systematic room-to-room search. By 11 p.m. they had cleared the building and released all the students, but they did not find either suspect.
The chain of events began around 3 p.m. Wednesday with an armed robbery involving five suspects at Empire Jewelry and Pawn Shop in Moreno Valley.
Police said that a clerk at the store was shot multiple times during the robbery.
The victim, a man in his 20s, was taken to a hosptial where he underwent emergency surgery. He was listed in stable, but critical condition, authorities said.
The suspects fled the scene in a Lexus and led police on a wild car chase that spanned four counties. They ultimately exited the 57 Freeway at Nutwood Ave. and stopped near Cal State Fullerton.
Two of the men were captured almost immediately and two others ran away.
The remaining suspect managed to carjack a second vehicle and led police on yet another pursuit through Orange County and into Watts.
He drove at speeds close to 100 mph before bailing out of the car. The suspect was arrested after a foot pursuit through a crowded park next to the Imperial Courts Recreation Center on 114th St.
All classes at Cal State Fullerton were canceled Wednesday evening, and several nearby streets are shut down, including a stretch of the 57 Freeway.
One student who spoke to KTLA said she was stuck in her dorm for about seven hours.
“I was supposed to have class while it was happening, but we received a lot of messages and phone calls to remain sheltered and not leave where we were,” Chantelle Ly said.
Troy High School, which is across the street from CSUF, was also placed on lockdown as a precaution during the suspect search.
44 Comments to “Cal State Fullerton Reopens After Search for Suspects”
December 12, 2012 at 4:59 PM
This better not mess up my traffic!
December 12, 2012 at 9:39 PM
Some of us have loved ones locked down in this mess, so sorry it throw a wrench into you day. Blessing!
December 12, 2012 at 5:02 PM
Sitting in my dorm watching the police run by!
December 12, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Stuck in class while campus is in lock down.
December 12, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Get to studying man! This is why you're gonna fail!
December 12, 2012 at 5:05 PM
LOL, Fullerton? They picked a good place to mess with the police, they're doomed. I am confident they will be caught before Rush Hour traffic begins. We all know how these things end.
December 12, 2012 at 5:09 PM
Technology now a days could really do most of the things. I'm grateful when it's being used in a proper way but grew some when it's done for selfish reason to commit crime. This people are really dangerous they can do this without hesitations. We should be careful from them. I'm glad my friend introduce me with this app. It amaze me much with their cool features like If ever you have an emergency and you're hurt, you can alert your family or friends. Plus 911 will be automatically notified of your location and profile for more efficient response.
December 12, 2012 at 5:10 PM
Any update have they caught the fool?
December 12, 2012 at 5:15 PM
Stuck on an island.
Need food…
December 12, 2012 at 5:29 PM
If you're in the library, I have cup-o-noodles!
December 12, 2012 at 5:40 PM
haha i want some!
lol
December 12, 2012 at 5:22 PM
any news. im stuck inside the library.
December 12, 2012 at 5:24 PM
I'm reading your comment for news
December 12, 2012 at 5:48 PM
So glad I couldn’t make it to my 4-6:45pm class at landsdorf hall today I’d bestuck there right now
December 12, 2012 at 5:52 PM
you are a reporter? You should know the correct form of "you're" in the last sentence.
December 12, 2012 at 6:30 PM
Also the use of "was" when referring to a location where two people had been arrested.
December 12, 2012 at 5:59 PM
Saw that in front of me @ compton
December 12, 2012 at 6:06 PM
Fat cops can't keep up with the guy
December 12, 2012 at 6:08 PM
stuck in the library
December 13, 2012 at 9:29 AM
If you think the university spelled YOUR wrong in their posts, then YOU’RE an idiot. Not because YOU’RE wrong in YOUR ignorance of the word but because of YOUR tweets and YOUR comments proving YOU’RE one.
December 12, 2012 at 6:10 PM
The University couldn’t even use the correct you’re in their post! And that, my friends, is education at its finest!
December 12, 2012 at 6:40 PM
Stuck in EC people are saying the shooter is in the library? Is that true?
December 12, 2012 at 9:31 PM
students stuck in the library and classrooms needs food / water. its been six hours…
December 13, 2012 at 9:28 AM
If you think the university spelled YOUR wrong in their posts, then YOU’RE an idiot. Not because YOU’RE wrong in YOUR ignorance of the word but because of YOUR tweets and YOUR comments proving YOU’RE one.