A 25-year-old man charged with attempted murder in the shooting of two security guards at a Target store in downtown LA on Dec. 30 also opened fire on somebody who wouldn’t give him money at the same mall three days earlier, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Friday. Jabril Andrew Metoyer was tracked to a hotel in DTLA not far from the scene of two separate shootings he is now accused of, leading to charges of three counts of attempted murder, four counts of robbery, and one count of attempted robbery, Hochman said. The new District Attorney also added enhanced gun charges against Metoyer, which was among his campaign promises.
On Dec. 30, at around 8:52 p.m. Metoyer tried to run out Target at 735 S. Figueroa St. with two stolen suitcases, officials said. When confronted by security, Metoyer is accused of brandishing a gun and shooting. Now officials say the same gunman shot shot a man who declined to give him money at a Starbucks in the same mall. “This morning, my office filed serious charges against a man accused of attempting to shoplift from a Target store and then escalating his actions to a violent attack that left two security guards injured, one critically, by gunfire,” Hochman said. “This kind of brazen thievery and violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County.”
“My thoughts are with the injured guards and their families during this difficult time. I want to assure them, and all residents, that we will use every resource available to bring justice to those who commit such heinous acts,” Hochman said. “If you engage in criminal behavior that endangers lives and disrupts public safety in LA County, you will face swift and decisive consequences.” Metoyer is being held on a bail amount of $4,100,000. His arraignment was scheduled to be held Friday in the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. If convicted as charged, he faces life in state prison. The arrest was applauded by LAPD Chief of Police, Jim McDonnell who said that then public was essential to the swift arrest of the suspect…