1997 North Hollywood Shootout - Forgotten History

At 9:16 am, February 28, 1997, Larry Phillips and Emil Mătăsăreanu entered and robbed Bank of America's North branch. The robbers were confronted by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers when they exited the bank and a shootout between the officers and the robbers ensued. The robbers attempted to flee the scene, Phillips on foot and Mătăsăreanu in their getaway vehicle, while continuing to exchange fire with the officers. Due to the large number of injuries and rounds fired, equipment used by the robbers, and overall length of the event, The North Hollywood Shoot out, is regarded as one of the most intense and significant gun battles in U.S. police history. Written and hosted by Mike Droberg. Forgotten History is a 10th Legion Pictures Production.
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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976,
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1997 North Hollywood Shootout - Forgotten History

[@grimmes1159]

Dude in the truck hit the kill switch before he bailed. That’s got to be the most situational awareness I’ve hear of.

[@ZER0_G]

True. His truck was Swiss cheese 3 minutes later though.

[@barnyardbraegrad6887]

I saw on other documentaries of this event that the Jeep driver took the ignition key with him. This is the first time I heard anything about engaging an engine kill switch.

[@grimmes1159]

@@ZER0_G all you can do is put yourself in a position to win lol

[@grimmes1159]

@@barnyardbraegrad6887 same, I think that’s what made it stand out to me so much

[@ZER0_G]

@@grimmes1159 Right you are!!! If nothing else, it put the cops in a position to win.

[@CosmicTaco333]

I was living in L.A. at the time. I remember when the LAPD went to the largest gun store in the area (B&B Sales) for a large -caliber rifle to take down the shooters who were wearing ballistic vests. The cops killed a shooter with that rifle. The gun store was later repaid for their contribution by being forced out of business by the L.A. County politicians.

[@CynthiaSteele-o2g]

How terrible..😡😡😡

[@AICW]

That's not true. None of the guns they took from the gun store fired a single bullet. The LAPD SWAT Team arrived and killed Mătăsăreanu with their own department-issued AR-15s.

[@GreenCanvasInteriorscape]

Fellow below you says you're lying, what's up with that?

[@44SWAGNUM-MAGA5]

@@AICW the store was shut down,

[@44SWAGNUM-MAGA5]

@@GreenCanvasInteriorscape belive what you want , maybe look it up,,

[@lauriivey7801]

Just imagine, all of this could've been avoided ... not by gun-control, but by keeping the criminals in jail!!

[@randyvaughn4046]

You mean the politicians and the banksters right ? I thought so.

[@DavidWhite-eh3wu]

Based

[@tedwojtasik8781]

But don'tcha think a wee bit of gun control and possibly not being able to buy body armor could have as well? Oh Jesus, what was I thinking. Everyone knows the solution to all problems is MORE GUNS! Yeah Boyyyyeeeee. If Jesus were he, he would have a gun...and be swole.

[@cattinkerbell4946]

"Democrat" judge directly responsible for this with this "100 days in jail" sentence.

[@zackjay71]

Also by more citizen’s being armed

[@michaelrooney5936]

I've watched many docs on this shootout and this is the first time I heard about their fricking priors! Holy shit.....

[@cherimolina2121]

They spent just enough time in prison to garner more inside info on how to really gear up for a job. Better than Google!

[@peterj5106]

How is that possible if you'd watched many Doc's? It says basically the same in every one, including priors.

[@martinmontier9930]

Exactly! They should have been in prison at the time of this robbery for all the stuff they got caught with prior to this robbery!

[@geowa3724]

Must be all these woke DAs soft on crime. Oh wait.

[@cwavt8849]

I just Love a channel that is narrated by a human. Thank you.

[@yourname-mz1jo]

@@cwavt8849 lol

[@iowa_lot_to_travel9471]

Popo Medic also covered this.

[@ghostwriter1415]

yes

[@Archesio_Palackante]

…and scripted by reading word to word the Wikipedia page 😂👌

[@AmericanBoy-si9zg]

​@@iowa_lot_to_travel9471 His channel is great for stories like this.

[@richardcorwin1828]

Remember this well as it fed fuel to the anti-constitutionalists and the continual fear mongering by the media. Thank you sir for the content.

[@joaopedrobaggio4475]

Because of 2 psycopaths the government wants to disarm the law-abiding citizens.

[@robertleitz8672]

Now LE are militarized using equipment that is unconstitutional!!!

[@edwhatshisname3562]

Right, imagine how things might have gone if all or most of the people standing around had been armed, or the cops had scary black r*fles to begin with.

[@El_Peto]

I was about 5 years old back then and still recall hearing all about it

[@blahgiggy4612]

Why didn’t you spell out rifles? You scared of censorship or something?

[@heatherporterfield7343]

I watched the robbery on tv as it happened on 28 feb 1997. 44 Minutes of intense shootout. ☹

[@walkingcarpet420]

Back when the news showed exciting GTA style crimes

[@mhzprayer]

Yeah we watched this happening because our break room had a TV that stayed on all day. Everybody ended up in there watching it the whole time.

[@Andy-im3kj]

Without a doubt this event changed police tactics nationwide.

[@yourname-mz1jo]

@@Andy-im3kj yeah a lot for the better and a lot for the worse

[@brianhawk1854]

Uvalde,TX u say

[@General_Kenobi_212]

For the worse

[@RealEstateEntrepreneur]

@@Andy-im3kj Yeah it did. Unfortunately, cops treat regular citizens as a criminal.

[@davidtaylor195]

Our PD immediately bought new 40cal handguns, traded in our revolvers. More Quals too. Off Duty weapons allowed too.

[@williamcarey8529]

This goes to show that no matter what type of gun control laws you have the criminals anywhere will always be able to get guns (firearms) or any other type of weapons. I resent these foreign journalists such as Piers Morgan (who isn't even a United States citizen) or foreign newspapers calling for stricter gun control laws. Piers Morgan quit in disgrace from CNN and I do not miss him at all. The Jerusalem Post and other Israeli Newspapers have also called for stricter gun control laws. But surprisingly very little is mentioned about this. Keep up the great work!!

[@allysondoerfler2435]

Agreed; bank robbery is against the law, but that didn't stop them. One more law would not have stopped them. Having cocaine, heroin, meth are all against the law.... they are easily attainable.

[@Adamtherealboss]

Shall not be infringed! 🔥

[@williamcarey8529]

​@@allysondoerfler2435Thank you!!

[@williamcarey8529]

​@@AdamtherealbossABSOLUTELY!!

[@ethandoyle8812]

it's weird how gun control works everywhere else but for some reason we just can't do it because the gun companies say it won't work. Lol people should just be honest and admit they are giant pussies who can't leave home without their manhood which is their gun

[@vickie2658]

I remember when this happened! It was so crazy. It was “BREAKING NEWS “ and I was off work that day. I still remember how shocked I was watching it on tv. Thanks for the video.❤

[@lovly2cu725]

me too

[@Wes.jumpss]

Yep. I skipped school that day and turned on the tv. Watched it live all morning.

[@angeldesigns1385]

Well I was a 20 year old loafer with no desire to get a job at the time, so I remember when this was breaking news and I remember watching it from beginning to end…ironically enough I would one day end up working in the firearms industry as I still am today

[@willisix2554]

If you think that was crazy, you should have been with me that day, I was about 3 blocks west of that! While it was happening. I came out of a customer's hous and made an uturn. To go to another job had I made a right turn, on Agnes i would have been in the middle of it!

[@travishendrix7026]

This shoot out did change the game. These two were straight killers. They researched, planned, armed up, created their own armour and had a seemingly endless supply of ammunition. Im the same age as these guys. This is a real shoot out. Its shocking to remember this.

[@leslymaguire8564]

L.A. P.D. didn't want to pay the gun store owner for the guns. They just returned them and he was stuck with used weapons that he couldn't sell until he started advertizing them as being used in the shootout.

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks for watching

[@AleisterCrowly2]

The county DA got the ATF involved, and the ATF showed up at the gun store and demanded to see the filled out federal and state paperwork from each officer that received a weapon. None had done any paperwork, the dealer knowing the situation down the street allowed them to use the rifles. The ATF came down on the shop owner like the ton of shit that is the ATF. For trying to be a helpful citizen he had charges filed and was put out of business.

[@davidtrujillo1539]

​@@AleisterCrowly2 That's f#cken insane... dumb crap like this is why people don't help when they should. Get sued for saving someone because they might be sued for some ridiculous reason

[@erichvonmanstein6876]

​@@AleisterCrowly2stop making up stories fool

[@joshuaedwards3322]

There was a time, when I was young and dumb. And I thought THIS shootout would be yhe craziest thing I'd ever see on the news...Boy was I wrong.

[@Autobotmatt428]

These guys had to be some of the most well armed and armored bank Robbers since Ned Kelly. But instead of a metal suit they had kevlar

[@lovly2cu725]

didnt they have better everything that the police?

[@DSR299]

It sort of reminded me of "Terminator 2."

[@chuckselvage3157]

They definitely took a leaf out of Uncle Neds book.

[@erichvonmanstein6876]

No, they did t have kevlar. Did you not watch the video?

[@t2brfu67]

Never let a tragedy go to waste...

[@rocksnot952]

If they'd brought the hammer down after their earlier robberies in 1993, none of this would have happened.

[@bayuajifebriyanto]

I thought that wouldnt happened either. This was gonna happen anyway, but much worse

[@DeadManSinging1]

One thing you forgot to mention, not an important detail, but an interesting one none the less: When Mătăsăreanu passed the deceased body of Phillips, he did a little fist pump against his chest - A salute to his fallen brother in arms.

[@charlesbryson7443]

Brother in douchebaggery

[@yourname-mz1jo]

@@DeadManSinging1 are you being serious?

[@SmileyGamer28]

@@yourname-mz1jo Yes he did that

[@michaelroach4219]

"Brither in arms?" More like idiots in arms.

[@JayZee-lo8qy]

Lol yea idk about idiots, they did get away several times. Goes to show how stupid the police were if anything. Cops are clowns

[@AICW]

This incident actually made the Ruger PC9 and PC40 pistol caliber carbines dead on arrival. Those guns were originally released in 1996 and Bill Ruger was hoping to get police contracts to drum up sales for them. After this incident, departments everywhere saw how ineffective pistol bullets were and everyone started moving to AR-15s. The PC9 and PC40 were discontinued in 2006. It would not be until 2018 when the Ruger company finally got back into the PCC game by releasing the PC Carbine in 9mm and .40 S&W (the .40 caliber version was discontinued after only 2 years, though).

[@JustinSeara]

Wow, that Jeep owner is the real OG who hit the kill switch before running away. What a legend haha

[@johnfarrow3463]

I used to cash my check here every Friday for over 10 years & lived about 3 blocks from here. The Blockbuster across the street & IHOP just down the street were my favorite places. Glad I was at work when this happened!

[@yourname-mz1jo]

@johnfarrow3463 Yeah, that would definitely have made my ass movie immediately!!

[@yourname-mz1jo]

move lol

[@stvargas69]

I was at my company's intake interview that day. 27yrs ago. I heard about this on the way home. Watched the news and was in disbelief. Went to rent the movie HEAT that night. All copies were gone! Wonder why? Life imitates art or art imitates life.

[@davidjernigan8161]

It's crazy that their original conviction only received 100 days when they possessed explosive devices which should have got them ten years.

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Yes, exactly

[@edwhatshisname3562]

Well, you know how lax Commiefornia has been on crime lately. I guess it's always been that way. Not that I agree with explosives being illegal to own in the first place, given the wording of the second amendment.

[@User78813]

White men

[@angeldesigns1385]

@@User78813are still not even close to 12=50.. let that sink in a bit

[@User78813]

@@angeldesigns1385 All I hear are excuses for why they let 2 terrorists out of jail and didn't report them to the ATF. I call it "White Oversight 🌈"

[@DeadManSinging1]

Crazy how these guys were professional bank robbers, had pulled off various successful jobs and weren't even on the police's radar - Then they absolutely botched this job beyond belief - And TOOK DRUGS while doing it! Just goes to show that when people get ahead of themselves and become too headstrong, they do stupid things.

[@mjolnirdynamics8789]

Yeah but I mean tickets for speeding and window tint aren't just gonna write themselves. #RevenueGenerators

[@JulianGonzalez1974]

When I was a teenager I worked at a grocery store with officer Zboravan. He was the officer that was pinned down in the dentist office with the 2 detectives and his partner. I remember watching the live footage and just glued to the tv. days later I found out he was injured and was very grateful. I was grateful for all the officers surviving and that no civilians were killed.

[@icanreadthebible7561]

... and all the "common sense gun control laws" passed before and after this event prevented all gun crimes forever and ever in Kommiefornocatia.

[@ltkreg]

I worked as an insurance ajuster not far from where this happened. Amazingly, no one but the bad guys were seriously hurt. All those bullets flying every where don't disapear into the ether, they come down and hit something. Anyway, I got a slew of claims for holes in stucco, the sides of vehicles, broken windows ...

[@jason200912]

Their rifles surprisingly didn't penetrate the police car doors when cops used the doors as cover.

[@chriseiserman33]

@@jason200912 Makes you wonder why they didn't penetrate?

[@Allen-Cote-St.-Luc]

I believe alot of people and police officers were shot.

[@Allen-Cote-St.-Luc]

​@@jason200912I believe the shots did go through the doors. I saw it on another video.

[@ltkreg]

@@Allen-Cote-St.-Luc Yes, but no one but the bad guys died.

[@joaopedrobaggio4475]

Bank heists like this are very common in Brazil, and we have a very restrictive gun laws.

[@K37-h1z]

Ya and these guys had felonies, it's almost like gun laws don't work

[@wsttxC10_454]

Gun laws only work to disarm law abiding citizens not criminals, that's why they don't work it just creates more victims. Gun control is about the government having total control not population safety, just look at most countries and major US cities with the strictest gun laws they normally have the highest crime rates.

[@redridingcape]

​@@K37-h1z Saying they don't work is true, but misses the point. They work perfectly for stopping law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves from criminals and the government, which is the ultimate goal.

[@MOB_JD]

@@redridingcapepreach

[@joaopedrobaggio4475]

@@redridingcape exactly, the laws in my country were created by very corrupt politicians.

[@haveaday1812]

They showed that two motivated individuals, with good weapons and tactics, could take on an entire battalion of LA’s worst donut eaters.

[@justinhorn2864]

That's why a dirty government doesn't want good people armed

[@184876ela]

AMEN BROTHER SPOT ON

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks for watching

[@mRahman92]

Wooo, defund the police! Anarchy all the way!!

[@ravpol1440]

I remember seeing this on cnn as a kid and they also added this into the beginning of the movie swat with ll cool j

[@scottmaclaren4695]

i had heard that Phillips was covered with armor head to toe. the way you described it makes much more sense. another great video

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks for watching!

[@MrKnoxguy101]

Well done. You guys should do a video on the 1986 FBI Miami shootout. That incident is still used as training material for law enforcement till this day.

[@DortonFarb]

Yes.

[@twc9000]

The fact that Mătăsăreanu's family sued the police department is shocking. And that it got as far as being a hung jury is a sign of a failing society.

[@PrinceMauriceTV]

not really. Refusing medical attention because they are bad guys goes against our own laws.

[@johnharris6655]

@@PrinceMauriceTVWell you can't get medical attention if it is not safe for the Medics to go into a scene. Not one EMT was allowed to go into the scene until cleared by the police. The coroner ruled that some of the wounds to Mătăsăreanu' were fatal and would not have made it to the hospital and was pronounced dead at the scene.

[@Oseiwe]

​@@PrinceMauriceTVDumb laws then

[@lcfflc3887]

Nohhhh you don't understand, the sue had standing and that's all the justice system cares, morals aren't part of it, they lost because the jury didn't wanted to be known as the group that gave this dude's mom millions of dollars after what he did, from a lawyer's point of view they could have appealed this case over and over again since the jury didn't came up with a definite verdict, but to stop them from continuing LAPD went back at them in the courts as well.

[@mz6504]

Whatever dude…..I was there when this unfolded……these two idiots had been doing this for quite some time……just fucking stupid……

[@FromGamingwithLove0456]

I worked for Larry Phillips jr.’s brother for awhile and learned the preamble to this story. Pretty unreal- especially in that time period.

[@billcarsonalias]

I had just moved to Los Angeles about 3 weeks before this went down. The other big event that took place shortly after, was the Biggie Smalls killing a week later a few blocks from were I was staying. It was my "Welcome to the Jungle" moment.

[@gmoeller18]

I love this channel. You guys are always so straight with the facts.

[@lovly2cu725]

I watched that LIVE on tv. My work group who were getting laid off at the end of the month from AT and T, were going out for lunch, stopped of a co workers home, turned on the TV, watched it all and never had lunch.

[@trooper_688]

NO WAY!! I can’t believe you’re covering this event, I love the movie sm

[@ESPLTD322]

I can’t believe Senator Biden’s 94-04 “Assault Weapon Ban” didn’t prevent this!!! Lmao

[@soakupthesunman]

Bide has been a useless lout his whole life.

[@smokingONsumDRO]

Some of the modded guns jammed so it did help the lapd a little bit

[@SC_XOLOs]

@@smokingONsumDROcause they got shot at

[@ATXviIIIe]

You aren’t accurate

[@rockymvvrcianu6846]

It was Trump's fault this was not prevented.

[@stripmin41]

I'm glad to see you cover this.

[@davereynolds6965]

Their families tried to sue police for not rushing the suspects to the hospital after they were finally able to stop them.

[@vickie2658]

I thought it was the one robbers family, they were mad he died bc they “claimed “ police and medics took victims to the hospital before him… he died and they should have been ashamed of themselves for trying that mess.❤ +++edit**^ Not wearing my reading glasses 🤣 I just realized you said the same thing 😂😂. My bad, my friend ♥️

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Yes, ridiculous,

[@NewAgeTownSquare]

I believe the reason is that medical personnel will not enter a hot zone until it is deemed completely safe. At that point they haven’t determined that there was for sure only two shooters.

[@hammerdown3876]

today that lawsuit would not only be heard but families would have got paid...

[@ethandoyle8812]

@@hammerdown3876 it made it all the way to a hung jury decision

[@jokebone1]

And this situation provided law enforcement 90% of their excuse to turn themselves to highly militarize themselves and turning from a police department in to a para-military organization ......................

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks for watching

[@PassengersMusic777]

Yes. Because having a big black scary rifle makes police sooooooo scary and militarised 🤭

[@robinwavestou5526]

It reflects the times in which we are now living. Knowing the things we do about Ruby Ridge, Waco, Jonestown, all the school and nightclub shootings, on and on, people question the motivation of all 3 - letter agencies, from the ADA to the ATF, imo.

[@KNIGHTJUMPS]

Exactly.

[@gypsyHAASy]

@@PassengersMusic777having armored personnel carriers and tanks does

[@maarek71]

I haven't forgotten this. I remember it very clearly.

[@jamesbrown9736]

This was reviewed and discussed in my Police Academy. Good video. I don’t know if Y’all have done an episode on Newhall but if Y’all haven’t please do.

[@DortonFarb]

The Newhall Incident was tragic.

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks for watching

[@curtisbacon7856]

I have not forgotten. I was thinking about this event just a few weeks ago.

[@Steve-ec6ed]

GREAT episode! I remember this day well.

[@shantanusapru]

Nicely covered!! One of the most horrifying crimes of that era/decade...

[@jonathanjohnson8656]

I've wondered how the gun stores were compensated by the police for the guns they walked in and walked out with. You know how reluctant the government can be to pay for things they feel entitled to.

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

I saw a doc with the gun store owner. Yes, he was compensated

[@jess500texas]

Here's the funny thing about this incident... Between 1994 and 2004 there was the assault weapons ban. Those two guns were legally speaking, not assault weapons. They were illegally modified semi auto rifles that took detachable magazines with illegally obtained drum magazines. Again, during this time, there was the "assault weapons ban" in place. During the shooting, the police went into gun stores and purchased "assault rifles" to take down the shooters. How could they get assault rifles if the gun store legally speaking wasn't able to sell them. Let alone, what they had on had, at the time, was not under the category of an "assault weapon" but the police still referred them as "assault weapons" when they got it.

[@matj3296]

​@@jess500texas So even tho the was a ban, you could own "pre-ban" rifles, SMG, or full auto pistols that you already had or purchased at a gun show... My grandpa and father were gun collectors

[@allysondoerfler2435]

They didn't feel "entitled" .... they were fighting for their lives and the lives of by-standers. Never confuse the federal government with LOCAL LE.

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

​@@jess500texas I wonder, did they perform the necessary background check through NICS to make sure they cops were legal to have them?

[@dominickgaramella6431]

I remember watching this live on TV as a kid. It was a crazy day in American history for sure

[@bele2.041]

Hey Mike, great video. Learned alot about this incident.

[@Marlene-c6u]

Mike Droberg, good video, glad you are on the team of Forgotten History..

[@charlesf.5414]

Mr. Droberg! Incredible presentation! Thank you for your service and thank you for sharing some history! Keep them coming! Go Navy 😊!

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks! You guys always took me where I needed to go...

[@bradparker9664]

I've watched a lot of programs on this, being in law enforcement for 18 years. This is perhaps the most concise and well told version i've seen. And you are right, this DID change everything. Patrol Rifles became standard after this.

[@kwally6151]

A lawsuit for one of the shooters? Unbelievable.

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Being in CA, I'm surprised they didn't win the lawsuit...

[@trackpackgt877]

I remember watching this on the news back in the 90s when I was a kid with my parents also remember the OJ Chase and trial the LA riots and September 11th crazy times but I miss the 90s

[@erichvonmanstein6876]

Sept 11th was NOT in the 90's moro n

[@BenHopkins1000]

This history wasn’t completely forgotten. The History Channel show “Shootout” did an episode about it years ago. I’m told the robbers were inspired by the heist film “Heat”. From what you’ve told me, they should’ve watched “Speed”, as well…

[@YernBelfus400]

Wrong. There is ZERO connection between the movie "Heat" and the crime spree of these two felons.

[@BenHopkins1000]

@@YernBelfus400 Unless you count the VHS tape of the movie at Philips’ house…

[@YernBelfus400]

@@BenHopkins1000 Lol. I own "Heat" too, but I've never robbed a bank. Provide legitimate verifiable online resources to support your claim, or you're a liar.

[@TahoeDogProductions]

Worked NHWD and 77Thstreet in the early 90s. Lots of my partners and FTOs were in that shootout and see them interviewed in a lot of the Documentaries. Nice video!

[@noahmcdarby5417]

I was born in louisville Kentucky on Sept 21 1989. 2 weeks before I was born a gunman entered my moms place of work at the standard gravure armed with an ak47 along with a duffle bag full of other guns and ammo. My mom described the exact same nightmare of police officers completely helpless to reach the gunman as well as any potential hostages inside.

[@royale7620]

As a Romanian, given one of the suspects was Romanian, this always fascinated me, I wonder if he used smuggled Romanian ammo from our former President's brother, Mircea Basescu, he was caught in a arms smuggling scandal

[@BunyipDude]

@@royale7620 Don’t see why, given that AK ammo was readily available in the U.S.

[@GaryWoodVet]

Another excellent episode!

[@shanenolan5625]

Thanks guys

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thank you too

[@fibrowarrior6360]

I have a sister who lives about 60 miles from this area, when this happened. My BIL has his own business and was working in the area when it happened. He said it was unbelievable, scared the elderly people he was working for & all the others. He & his employees went door to door (small area) checking on everyone & assuring them everything would be ok. Thanks for covering this.

[@jamesdelaney3797]

I have a sister who lives about 3200 miles away

[@firstnamelastname6216]

I have a brother who wasn't born yet, too!​@@jamesdelaney3797

[@Mankivigs]

​@@jamesdelaney3797😂😂😂

[@TingTingalingy]

I don't believe you

[@jamesdelaney3797]

@@TingTingalingy 😭

[@EricPetersen2922]

I didn’t forget. My friend worked at the gun shop on Oxnard where the police had to go to get more guns and ammo. Scary times

[@dragonspov]

I wonder if it was your friend helping me and my friend (if he was working that day). We were there when this went down. Or one of the many times we went there. Good, knowledgeable staff, good prices and great sales. Small world.

[@EricPetersen2922]

It was B&B sales. His name was Ralf, he worked there for years. Skinny guy with longish hair. Looked like more of a surfer than a gun guy. Nice guy. Great memories (not the shootout of course-tragic)

[@dragonspov]

@@EricPetersen2922 Ralph wasn't helping us that day, but I remember him from other times. We looked like surfers ourselves. I still have all the products I bought at B&B to this day. Nice blast from the past, except the incidence that day.

[@lenzielenski3276]

That was my local bank branch. I lived maybe 6 blocks away and worked about 4 blocks away. I was at work that day and spoke to many eye witnesses. The real heroes were the people at B&B Gun Sales (Bumble Bee Wholesale) who allowed officers and SWAT to help themselves to rifles and ammunition. Without their contributions the criminals would likely have gotten away. The fact is, the police reacted poorly, using horrible tactics and worse marksmanship. Many simply ran from confrontation and made excuses later.

[@diehardDanny]

Wasn't B&B later held accountable for not following proper procedure?

[@lenzielenski3276]

@@diehardDanny Not that I'm aware of. Hard to hold someone accountable when peace officers are the ones stealing.

[@SM-uf4ef]

I did buy from B&B

[@alexsmart5452]

I was in-between classes at LAVC across the street from BofA at a sandwich place when the shooting started. We thought it was just a morning "drive-by" but once the plate glass windows started shattering and rounds where taking chunks out of the walls, we realized we were in trouble. It seemed like it lasted for ever. There was no place to hide so we just stayed under the little tables until a cop came to the door and had us all run out and down the street. In 2008 I went back there, still noticeable marks on the outer wall of the places where repairs were made from damage done that day.

[@79thPenn]

Excellent work as always

[@LloydieP]

Nice one Forgotten History, as usual!

[@maxgreen8520]

Del Taco .59 cent Tacos. Man those were good times.

[@BurtonJack369]

I think it is important throw in the fact that there was an assault weapons ban in place for 3yrs when this happened. Starting in 94' and expiring in 04'

[@dragonspov]

Dealers could sell any remaining stock they already had and the ban was initially only on specific models. Many stores stocked up before the ban because like everything CA plans to ban, stores buy a huge inventory before it goes into effect and everyone who was just thinking about getting whatever, decides to get it now while they still can. Sales skyrocket. Like every time Obama talked about a federal ban on something, NICS checks and sales skyrocketed in record breaking numbers. And they keep doing that over and over expecting different results-

[@boris2997]

I saw this on TV news when it happened. That was insane

[@nospoon4799]

Great content again!

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks again!

[@TingTingalingy]

I remember watching this live. Was wild. I remember when the cops had to run into a gun store in order to fight back

[@vernonbarbee1351]

That was intense. Graduation year and I remember that but not graduating.

[@jerrywatt6813]

That was my bank my went there every Friday with our pay checks we lived about a mile away luckily we were at work the bank was closed for about a week you could still see the scars on the building !

[@Viewer372]

Recently viewed few videos on this site and after seeing two phenomenal videos today (8-30-24) decided to subscribe.

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thank you kindly

[@-.Steven]

I think the old adage, Never bring a knife to a gun fight, would apply here most appropriately.

[@davidbigbee3556]

I worked five blocks from there. I got robbed three times at gun point in that area as a teenager. I ended up joining the military because it was actually safer and I had a rifle to shoot back. North Hollywood is a mess.

[@Hesiodzz]

Anyone here after watching Heat?

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Great flick!

[@joaopedrobaggio4475]

This movie is very good.

[@joelellis7035]

My Reserve unit was in the Ventura area and we were having a drill weekend that Friday. Due to many of our unit being in LA County law enforcement, we were informed that they were on a TAC alert and could be called in.

[@DortonFarb]

A lot was learned in 1986 in Miami. And a lot was learned on this day. As a patrol officer, I carried a 14.5" M4 carbine with thirteen 30-round magazines, in addition to the Glock with three magazines on my duty belt.

[@jason200912]

Wendigoon has an amazing mini documentary on this. Very very detailed.

[@ServoDestroyer]

I watched this on TV. It was crazy. You could see the bullets bouncing off of them. Most of their kit was homemade. I remember some people were cheering for them. This was a couple of years after the LA riots and the LAPD was not held in high regard. I find it interesting that they made a museum shrine to them. I'm pretty sure this incident is why body armor was outlawed in CA.

[@jermaineambriz3742]

Love your channel

[@tattered666]

I haven't forgotten. I have a shirt the commemorates the occasion lol

[@El_Peto]

Well KillDozer was better

[@midsouthirish1680]

The shirts a bit much guy. But remembered none the less😅

[@spaidly]

Nice work. I remember this. Crazy.

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks!

[@markmobley4995]

There were also citizens who stated that during the shootout police rescued fellow officers while ignoring unarmed civilians caught in the crossfire. They were largely ignored and left to fend for themselves as the cops took care of other cops first.

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

I hadn't heard that

[@KNIGHTJUMPS]

Impossible😂😂😂

[@13_13k]

By law cops are not obligated to protect the people. Seems strange but it is true. If the cops feel that their own lives are in danger or will be putting themselves in danger their own safety takes priority.

[@windowshasyou5561]

@@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL I was in CA when that happened. There was footage on the evening news showing cops rushing past wounded civilians to grab other cops. Very few civilians, if memory serves, were rescued while caught in the fire fight.

[@irish3335]

Semper fi! Well done video, great details of what went down

[@carlmontney7916]

You'd think after the 1986 Miami FBI shootout. That all agencies and police forces would have foreseen what was happening. How they were undergunned and would have taken plenty of steps to correct that problem Yet fast forward to 1997 and here we go again. That incident finally drove home the point that law enforcement was undergunned and needed to upgrade their weaponry and tactics for scenarios like this. I remember when both of these incidents happened and everybody complaining that the government was just trying to militarize our local police forces. I myself, never thought that way I looked at it as evening the playing field. That old saying the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is via a good guy with a gun. Well that can't happen if the good guy doesn't have equal advantage in guns.

[@u4tubular]

Had lots of “lessons learned” training including by some of those that were there. There’s more of a consensus that Philips was trying to clear a stovepipe jam rather than suicide, but either way, threat eliminated.

[@Harikarikillboy]

Thanks!

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks for your support. We really appreciate it!

[@SpaceCowboy-u7j]

I moved to Las Vegas in June 1996, so this happened relatively soon after I had moved “out West.” I remember watching this live on tv. It made a big impression on me. I was like: “Dayum! ‘Wild West’ … I totally get it!”

[@joshhigdon4951]

Awesome episode!

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks for watching

[@MatterInMyMind]

I'm really loving this channel! Keep up the good work 💪🏼🇦🇺🤙🏼

[@VictorMawhinney]

Thank you for posting , a really interesting video of what police officers have to deal with 👍 👍👍. Victor 👍👍

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Very welcome

[@Marlene-c6u]

That was uncalled for.. Great job Mike. Forgotten History is a favorite of mine to learn the facts about the past. THANK YOU.

[@Orpilorp]

Thank you Mike for your service. Thank you for this very informative video. Why do bank robbers even attempt robberies anymore. I know they always throw die packs into the bags. All that terror to the public, and loss of life for the officers is futile. I am so grateful for the officers' courage as they sought to protect the community.

[@ypaulbrown]

seems like this happened yesterday.......thanks for a wonderful break down on this tragic event.......it is very amazing what these two were able to get away with in the preceding years........cheers from Florida, Paul

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks, Paul

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

It was an incredible and amazing historical coverage video about two outlawed members of bank robberies .bank robbed in 1997 in daylight after several successful previous robbers... Criminals exchanged fires against public security servants with ultra troymph and furious exactly 💯 ( Hollywood action movies education), but Police 🚔 were not responded correctly like Hollywood action movies viewed . Thank you Sir for sharing 🙏

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Thanks for watching

[@johnl5316]

I lived on the south side of the Hills that day. It was huge in the news

[@leroyhughes6895]

It didn't just change US Law enforcement history, but also impacted the way mexican cartels dealt with law enforcement and rivals. I guarantee you that at least a couple of the Los Zetas heard about it and it influenced them later when they became members of Los Zetas because you had a real life case study of what military style firearms and tactics could do against law enforcement and civilian entities.

[@DeadManSinging1]

The cops let the other robber die. The paramedics were on site, treating police and bystanders. The cops straight up told them "that guy doesnt need your help" when they went to treat Mătăsăreanu. Can't say he didn't deserve it, but these dudes were into alot of other shady shit that we'll never know about because they just watched him die - The cops found a building owned by Mătăsăreanu where there was a woman being held against her will.

[@jason200912]

Lapd has been known for forming literal police gangs. They even have tattoo gang signs and some have been prosecuted

[@olddirtyburt7522]

Cops are pieces of sh!t, when their actions are used against them. Too many videos where they always behave that way. Sickening. The dudes family should have won the lawsuit, and taken the cops property; the cops know better, but they hope the public will just back them, regardless of their bad behavior.

[@warrengalliano6103]

A rather expensive eye opener wouldn't you say??

[@preshisify]

thank you ☕

[@FORGOTTENHISTORYCHANNEL]

Welcome!