Man arrested in shooting of 2 security guards outside a Los Angeles Target

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two security guards at a downtown Los Angeles shopping plaza were wounded in a gunfight with a man as they tried to stop him from making off with more than $1,000 of stolen merchandise, police said Tuesday.

The guards confronted the man as he left a Target store at the FIGat7th outdoor shopping mall Monday night. The suspect fired at least five rounds and one of the guards fired as well, Los Angeles Police Capt. Raul Jovel said in a news conference. The man fled, sparking a hunt that ended hours later with police saying a suspect was arrested.

“We're really lucky nobody got killed in this incident,” Jovel said.

The arrest of the man accused of wounding the guards followed an hourslong standoff on Tuesday at an apartment in Westlake, California, NBC Los Angeles reported.

The shooting ends a year in which California voters showcased their frustration with retail theft and other crime amid a perception it's been allowed to go unchecked. A ballot measure making shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders passed easily, rolling back a law passed by voters a decade ago that downgraded theft under $950 to a misdemeanor. A lack of local data makes it hard to quantify how bad the problem is, but viral videos earlier this year showed hordes of people running into major retail stores and shoplifting en mass. Voters also ousted several progressive district attorneys.

In Los Angeles, Jovel said the man had crammed more than $1,000 of merchandise into his bag, including stationery and clothing. Jovel had asked the public to report any information about the suspect to police and warned that he was considered dangerous.

Jovel said one of the guards was a loss prevention officer for Target and the other an armed security officer for the mall.

Judith Conway told KABC-TV she was in the Target store when the shots rang out, sending shoppers running in the aisles and screaming and crying.

"We heard several rounds go off, and we just pretty much ran towards the back and just left our items in the cart, and just tried to do the best that we could to get to safety,” Conway said.

There were no immediate reports of shoppers injured in the incident.

Los Angeles Police Cmdr. Lillian Carranza, front left, and Cpt. Raul Jovel give a press conference regarding a shooting at a Target store in Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Los Angeles Police Cmdr. Lillian Carranza, front left, and Cpt. Raul Jovel give a press conference regarding a shooting at a Target store in Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A private security guard, right, keeps a man suffering homelessness away as workers secure the outside of a temporarily closed Target store after two security guards were shot and wounded after they confronted a man suspected of shoplifting in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Workers secure the outside of a temporarily closed Target store after two security guards were shot and wounded after they confronted a man suspected of shoplifting in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A closed sign is posted at a parking garage outside a Target store after two security guards were shot and wounded area after they confronted a man suspected of shoplifting in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Workers secure the outside of a Target store after two security guards were shot and wounded area after they confronted a man suspected of shoplifting in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A man enters a Target store after two security guards were shot and wounded area after they confronted a man suspected of shoplifting in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Los Angeles police stand outside a Target store after two security guards were shot and wounded area after they confronted a man suspected of shoplifting in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A broken window is seen at a Target store after two security guards were shot and wounded area after they confronted a man suspected of shoplifting in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A security guard stands outside a Target store after two security guards were shot and wounded area after they confronted a man suspected of shoplifting in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Whether it's chess, a drawing contest or table tennis, San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama hates to lose. A loss in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals to the Minnesota Timberwolves only magnified that loathing.

Wembanyama responded by setting a suffocating tone as San Antonio handed Minnesota its largest postseason loss in franchise history, beating the Timberwolves 133-95 on Wednesday night to even their series at one game apiece.

Despite posting 11 points, 15 rebounds and setting an NBA postseason record with 12 blocks, Wembanyama shouldered much of the blame for the Spurs' 104-102 loss to the Timberwolves on Monday in Game 1.

The 7-foot-4 All-Star knew he needed to do more, especially offensively.

Was there some anger and frustration and a desire to get back on the court for Game 2? Absolutely.

“There always is,” Wembanyama said. “In the playoffs, magnify that.”

What resulted was what Minnesota coach Chris Finch said was a punking before a raucous sellout crowd.

The Timberwolves were held to 35 points in the first half while shooting 7 for 24 from the field and 2 for 15 on 3-pointers.

Minnesota closed the game shooting 40% from the field, 30% on 3-pointers while committing 22 turnovers. San Antonio had a 58-36 scoring advantage in the paint, a 55-43 rebounding advantage and had nine blocked shots compared to two for Minnesota.

“We got beat in every way possible, it’s as simple as that,” Timberwolves forward Julius Randle said. “There’s not really much to say from this game. They outhustled us, out-physicaled us, executed, played better defensively, more energy. They just beat us in every way in this game. We’ve got to come back in the next game and be better.”

Game 3 is Friday in Minneapolis followed by Game 4 on Sunday at the Target Center.

The Spurs and Timberwolves went deep into their benches Wednesday with 10 minutes remaining in the game with only the margin of defeat undecided.

San Antonio's 38-point victory toppled Minnesota’s previous largest postseason defeat of 30 points to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 29, 2003.

“I know this team’s capable of doing all of this,” Wembanyama said. “To be honest, I’m expecting this kind of response from myself, from my teammates. So, I’m not surprised by any means and I’m just going to keep working so we approach more games like we did tonight.”

After blowing a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter Monday, Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox both took accountability for the two-point loss.

Wembanyama andFox combined for only 21 points in Game 1. The All-Star duo was a combined 0 for 12 on 3-pointers with Wembanyama missing eight.

“They acknowledged it, them being the leaders on our team,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. “Coming out of Game 1, I mean, it’s going to happen. You're going to have bad shooting nights, but I mean, we have nothing but confidence in those two. So, I expect them to play well the rest of the series like they did tonight.”

Wembanyama set the tone early in Game 2, scoring seven points on 3-for-4 shooting.

The Spurs missed their first three shots, but Wembanyama followed the third attempt by flying through the lane and throwing down a right-handed dunk to open the scoring.

Wembanyama had 14 points and nine rebounds in the first half while leading a defensive effort that limited Minnesota to 35 points, the fewest points by a San Antonio opponent in the first half of a playoff game since Memphis had 31 in 2013.

“I just think we respond well to adversity,” Castle said. “I think we’ve done that all year. I mean, I don’t think we were too shell shocked coming out of Game 1. I think we knew why we lost Game 1 and we addressed it right away. And I feel like that’s what carried us through tonight.”

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Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30), guard Bones Hyland (8), guard Anthony Edwards (5) and center Naz Reid (11) watch from the bench during the second half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, right, and forward Keldon Johnson, second from right, reacts to a play with teammates during the second half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, right, is blocked by San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, as he drives to the basket during the second half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)