N. Hollywood shootout

[DogMan 2,343]

Had to get away to warmer weather for a while so I headed down to SoCal to see some friends. It's been beautiful here the last few days. Sunny and between 75 and 80 degrees, just awesome. Anyway since friends have to work I had a lot of free time I got curious about checking out the scene of the infamous North Hollywood bank robbery and shootout. Since I bank at Bank of America myself I went inside to make a withdrawl (the legal kind). The inside is now like a fortress with bulletproof glass a full inch or more thick between all the tellers and customers. I traced the path of the shooters through the neighborhood to where they met their demise and that was about it but then I got curious about whatever happened to all the guns and other evidence. I did some internet investigation and it turns out it is all in a former police station that has been turned into a kind of museum a few miles away from the scene. They have a display there of all the actual weapons, body armor, walkie talkies, hundreds of spent shell casings, the ski masks, everything. What surprised me is that when I walked out back where they had some old police vehicles on display, there was Matasareanu's white chevy under a thin sheet of plastic, bulletholes and all. To me it was really interesting to look at all this stuff and if anybody is ever in the area it might be worth checking out.

[Heath_h49008 442]

Very cool! I had no idea there was a museum.

 

 

Thanks for the heads up.

[beefcakeb99 572]

Pics or it didn't happen.

[DogMan 2,343]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

Oh, there's always one of you, isn't there? OK, here's a start.

[Heath_h49008 442]

It always made me kinda sad the one was let bleed to death by the cops after he surrendered. Those guys actually went out of their way to NOT kill anyone.

 

As scum go, they were a high water mark.

[GREYLUPO 358]

Thats awesome!

 

 

 

Na heath I just think they were really bad shots.

 

Their biggest mistake? They got greedy. They were already successful robbers having already stolen almost 2 million. They should have quit while they were ahead and retired.

Edited January 29, 2011 by GREYLUPO

[22_Shooter 1,560]

Pretty cool pics, Dog. Whenever I see a show on that shootout on TV, I watch it. That was some wild stuff that happened. I remember hearing that the police officers had to hit up the local gunshops to get firepower to match the robbers. Their sidearms and pump shotties weren't doing a damn bit of good against AK's and whatnot. Apparently, this shootout was a catalyst in a lot of departments getting M4's.

 

 

 

 

Those guys actually went out of their way to NOT kill anyone.

 

Yeah, these were plain ol' Boyscouts, looking out for everyone's safety . They were controlling their fire, only aiming at non-fatal areas with their armor piercing ammunition, right?

 

You do know that they killed a guard in an armored truck robbery a few years before the N. Hollywood shootout, right?

[zenman223 460]

That is kinda cool but am I the only one who thinks it sad and screwed up that they made a Museum for these pieces of shit??

[yakdung 2,926]

Thanks for the post. I remember watching this real time on TV when it was unfolding. I also found this:

 

http://www.northhollywoodshootout.com/index.html

http://www.northhollywoodshootout.com/emil-matasareanu.html

 

Yakdung

[22_Shooter 1,560]

That is kinda cool but am I the only one who thinks it sad and screwed up that they made a Museum for these pieces of shit??

 

It's not a memorial for these guys, fortunately. More of a reminder of history, IMO.

[GREYLUPO 358]

What surprises me is how young they were, I think 27 and 30 or something like that.

 

You see what lack of pussy does to a man? Too much time on their hands and no pussy and they start importing AP ammo and robbing shit.

[rocinante 100]

I saw Bonnie and Clyde's ford at a fair when I was a kid. Those 30-06 BARs turned it into swiss cheese.

 

My mother in law was almost in that McDonald's massacre. She was suppose to go to Tijuana with a girlfriend and stop at that McDonalds for lunch afterwards. She woke up that morning with a foreboding feeling and refused to go to Mexico. Her friend was pissed but they went to Palm Springs instead. Weird huh? She does that stuff all the time. A few months back her doorbell rang and when she went to the door a mortal dread came over her. She told the guy through the door she had a gun and was calling the police. Turns out he was running from the police for killing two people.

[22_Shooter 1,560]

You see what lack of pussy does to a man? Too much time on their hands and no pussy and they start importing AP ammo and robbing shit.

 

That needs to go in your sigline.

 

I saw Bonnie and Clyde's ford at a fair when I was a kid. Those 30-06 BARs turned it into swiss cheese.

 

My mother in law was almost in that McDonald's massacre. She was suppose to go to Tijuana with a girlfriend and stop at that McDonalds for lunch afterwards. She woke up that morning with a foreboding feeling and refused to go to Mexico. Her friend was pissed but they went to Palm Springs instead. Weird huh? She does that stuff all the time. A few months back her doorbell rang and when she went to the door a mortal dread came over her. She told the guy through the door she had a gun and was calling the police. Turns out he was running from the police for killing two people.

 

That's some wild stuff, man. A few times I've gotten those "gut feelings", but nothing as serious as that. She any good at picking lotto #s???

Edited January 29, 2011 by -Shooter-

[Heath_h49008 442]

Thats awesome!

 

 

 

Na heath I just think they were really bad shots.

 

Their biggest mistake? They got greedy. They were already successful robbers having already stolen almost 2 million. They should have quit while they were ahead and retired.

 

True.

[yakdung 2,926]

I saw Bonnie and Clyde's ford at a fair when I was a kid. Those 30-06 BARs turned it into swiss cheese.

 

My mother in law was almost in that McDonald's massacre. She was suppose to go to Tijuana with a girlfriend and stop at that McDonalds for lunch afterwards. She woke up that morning with a foreboding feeling and refused to go to Mexico. Her friend was pissed but they went to Palm Springs instead. Weird huh? She does that stuff all the time. A few months back her doorbell rang and when she went to the door a mortal dread came over her. She told the guy through the door she had a gun and was calling the police. Turns out he was running from the police for killing two people.

 

All I can say is wow. I really believe some folks have a sense for these types of things.

 

Yakdung

[DogMan 2,343]

That is kinda cool but am I the only one who thinks it sad and screwed up that they made a Museum for these pieces of shit??

 

The museum isn't just for these guys and this incident. It's really more about the history of the LAPD. I have to say though, the other stuff was pretty boring compared to the stuff related to this robbery. The museum is pretty small and it may be just getting up and running, I don't know. Lots of old police equipment, a helicopter, some armored vehicles, at least one cop car shot up in the N. Hollywood bank robbery.

[DogMan 2,343]

I'm on my way back up the coast now and I stopped in San Jose to tour the old Winchester estate. It's a huge bizarre mansion owned and built by the widow of the William Winchester. There is a museum there with just about every old Winchester model ever made which was good enough reason to see it, but the mansion is the most bizarre thing in the world. It was built with all kinds of doors leading nowhere and cabinets opening up to blank walls, etc. so she would confuse the evil spirits who had died by the Winchester rifle. Weird.

[yakdung 2,926]

I'm on my way back up the coast now and I stopped in San Jose to tour the old Winchester estate. It's a huge bizarre mansion owned and built by the widow of the William Winchester. There is a museum there with just about every old Winchester model ever made which was good enough reason to see it, but the mansion is the most bizarre thing in the world. It was built with all kinds of doors leading nowhere and cabinets opening up to blank walls, etc. so she would confuse the evil spirits who had died by the Winchester rifle. Weird.

 

I've been there. Really weird stairs to nowhere.

 

Yakdung

[22_Shooter 1,560]

I'm on my way back up the coast now and I stopped in San Jose to tour the old Winchester estate. It's a huge bizarre mansion owned and built by the widow of the William Winchester. There is a museum there with just about every old Winchester model ever made which was good enough reason to see it, but the mansion is the most bizarre thing in the world. It was built with all kinds of doors leading nowhere and cabinets opening up to blank walls, etc. so she would confuse the evil spirits who had died by the Winchester rifle. Weird.

 

I remember seeing a show on that mansion on some TV show. Weird stuff.

[Jpanzer 1,265]

Megadeth has a song about this caper on their latest album, and I've seen the shootout footage numerous times. The two things that impressed me the most was how terrible these guys were as shooters and how when the one dude had a jam with his drum he couldn't clear it and dropped the AK. After that he was toast....

[DogMan 2,343]

I saw Bonnie and Clyde's ford at a fair when I was a kid. Those 30-06 BARs turned it into swiss cheese.

 

My mother in law was almost in that McDonald's massacre. She was suppose to go to Tijuana with a girlfriend and stop at that McDonalds for lunch afterwards. She woke up that morning with a foreboding feeling and refused to go to Mexico. Her friend was pissed but they went to Palm Springs instead. Weird huh? She does that stuff all the time. A few months back her doorbell rang and when she went to the door a mortal dread came over her. She told the guy through the door she had a gun and was calling the police. Turns out he was running from the police for killing two people.

 

That car is sitting at the Primm Valley resort and casino in Primm Nevada, right on the California/Nevada border. I saw it there about three years ago. Yeah, you can definitely see where the BAR rounds hit. There were a few fake B&C death cars going around over the years but this is the authentic one as evidenced by the "fingerprint" of the bulletholes compared to the photos taken immediately after the ambush.

[DogMan 2,343]

Megadeth has a song about this caper on their latest album, and I've seen the shootout footage numerous times. The two things that impressed me the most was how terrible these guys were as shooters and how when the one dude had a jam with his drum he couldn't clear it and dropped the AK. After that he was toast....

 

These guys were not that bright. They walked right up to the front doors dressed in all that body armor and were seen by a patrol car that just happened to be driving by, so they never had a chance. As you said, Phillips had a simple stovepipe jam which he should have been able to clear easily. He was shot in the hand so I don't know how much that played into it. These guys should not be glorified in any way. The only thing remotely admirable about them was they had balls enough to go "all in". I'll grudgingly tip my hat to that, but they are still losers.

[DogMan 2,343]

Here is where Matasareanu was taken out.

 

 

 

 

 

Phillips is shot in the hand, his AK stovepipes, and he commits suicide here.

Edited January 30, 2011 by DogMan

[BronCobraJet 80]

My town had the Charles Starkweather (killed 11 people in 1959 in NE) car in it for a long time. (Truman Capote wrote a book - In Cold Blood). No one really knew about it or cared. It was behind a building next to the town trash dump site. I remember looking at it when I was about 16 or 17. Don't know if it is still there or not. Might have to drive up and take a look. Town pop. of 3400 or so. so not a long drive, lol.

[GREYLUPO 358]

My town had the Charles Starkweather (killed 11 people in 1959 in NE) car in it for a long time. (Truman Capote wrote a book - In Cold Blood). No one really knew about it or cared. It was behind a building next to the town trash dump site. I remember looking at it when I was about 16 or 17. Don't know if it is still there or not. Might have to drive up and take a look. Town pop. of 3400 or so. so not a long drive, lol.

 

 

I never heard of the guy so I googled him. What a crazy focker!

[volkov 318]

It always made me kinda sad the one was let bleed to death by the cops after he surrendered. Those guys actually went out of their way to NOT kill anyone.

 

As scum go, they were a high water mark.

 

No- they didn't manage to kill anyone in the shootout.. But they HAD killed before- armored car driver and (If I remember right) guy at a gun range. These were NOT good people.

[rogertc1 4]

I saw one of Elvis' White Cadillac on display at an auto dealer around Independance, Mo in 1978!! No bullrt holes.

[roachtron 49]

I don't understand why it took something like that for police departments to realize they needed more firepower. They know what guns are out there and could of learned from some history that if a gun exists some bad guy will get his hands on it. Well wait it was in california, and i did read somewhere that .45 acp wasn't even approved for lapd until this incident. California a place where they even try to restrict the firepower the police have.....

Edited January 31, 2011 by roachtron

[DogMan 2,343]

I don't understand why it took something like that for police departments to realize they needed more firepower. They know what guns are out there and could of learned from some history that if a gun exists some bad guy will get his hands on it. Well wait it was in california, and i did read somewhere that .45 acp wasn't even approved for lapd until this incident. California a place where they even try to restrict the firepower the police have.....

 

Well, I think it is important to carefully examine how the police were really at a disadvantage here. It was more about the body armor the bad guys were wearing than the fully automatic weapons. What they needed more than just more bullets flying in the general direction of these guys was a couple of well placed head shots from a .308 or better sniper rifle while they had both Phillips and Matasareanu stiil on the bank property. To me, that was the major tactical shortcoming. Why they didn't have that capability there on the scene, I have no idea. Of course you can always make a case that more rounds sprayed in the direction of the bad guys increases the chance of a lucky shot to a vulnerable area, but that is exactly what the robbers were doing and they didn't manage to kill anybody, and their targets were not wearing that kind of body armor.

[Tusken Raider 6]

But they did manage to keep heads down. The did manage to injure several people including police. They did manage to maim a few officers as well. They were able to hold off literally most of the LAPD. They carried shat loads of ammo, fully auto weapons, and they had home made body armor.

 

Tactically the LAPD contained them for a time which is what should be done. Once the 2 guys went mobile that is where things escalated. Until they split up they had plenty of ammo and spare weapons. More so than the LAPD whose officers were dry. It is the short sighted politicians AND public's fault the police were not equiped to handle the situation in short order. In effect, they tied the cops hands around their balls and said go forth a protect us but don't hurt the bad guys.

 

For the bad guys, they held off the LAPD, blew the hell out of property and a few people that got lucky not to die. They knew they out gunned the police. They were prepared for a fight. They were off their rockers for sure. However, they engaged in an act that put innocents at risk for nothing more than money, and they had murdered before. They got what was coming to them. Karma is a bitch and it caught up to them.