LBPD Encounters Armed Man In ELB Hotel Lobby Believed Holding At Least One Employee Hostage; He's Shot Dead, No One Else Injured '

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LBPD Encounters Armed Man In ELB Hotel Lobby Believed Holding At Least One Employee Hostage; He's Shot Dead, No One Else Injured

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(Jan. 5, 2018, 4:10 p.m.) -- Responding to a midnight hour caller today (Jan. 5) who said he was an employee at an ELB hotel and an armed man was holding him hostage, LBPD says its officers responded to the Holiday Inn at Willow St./Lakewood Blvd., saw a suspect in the lobby armed with a gun, entered the lobby, ordered the man to drop his weapon...and when he allegedly didn't comply, an officer-involved shooting occurred.

The armed suspect is dead. No other persons -- officers or hotel employees, guests or other patrons -- were injured. A a gun (photo below) was recovered at the scene.

LBPD photo

[Scroll down for further.]

In a release, LBPD states:

On Friday, January 5, 2018, at approx. 12:50 a.m., officers were dispatched to a hotel at Lakewood Boulevard and Willow Street regarding a person with a gun call, which resulted in an officer involved shooting.
The Long Beach Emergency Communications Center received a call from a male subject who indicated he was an employee of the hotel and was being held hostage by an armed suspect.
When officers arrived, they could clearly see into the lobby and saw a male suspect armed with a gun. Based on their observations and the information the victim was relaying to the 9-1-1 operator, the officers believed the suspect was holding employees against their will and were dealing with a hostage situation. Concerned for the safety of the employees inside and other guests staying in the hotel, officers quickly formulated a plan and entered the lobby.
They made verbal contact with the suspect and gave him several commands to drop his weapon. The suspect did not comply and an officer involved shooting occurred. Two officers discharged their weapons striking the suspect, preventing the suspect from shooting the employees or officers. A gun was recovered at the scene (pictured above).
The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Andy Vo of Irvine, was transported to a local hospital and was later pronounced deceased.
Based on preliminary findings of the investigation, it appears the hotel was chosen at random. It is believed that he was not a guest of the hotel and does not have any relations to any guests or employees. The suspect's motive for the crime remains under investigation.
As with all officer involved shooting incidents, the department will be conducting a full and thorough review of the incident. Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will conduct an independent investigation, as they do with all officer involved shootings that occur in Los Angeles County that result in injury or death.

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