San Fernando Valley : Armed Robber Slain by Theater Employee

A gunman who tried to rob two movie theater employees in Encino was shot to death early Monday by one of the employees, who also works as a reserve officer for the Culver City Police Department, officials said.

The gunman, who was not immediately identified, confronted the employees shortly after midnight as they left the Laemmle Town Center 5 movie theaters on Ventura Boulevard, Los Angeles police said.

Nicole Cornute, 23, of North Hills, and Adam Treanor, 25, of Woodland Hills, both assistant managers, said they were walking to their cars in an underground parking lot when the man asked what time the movies ended.

Seconds later, the man pointed a pistol at Cornute and Treanor and demanded the theater’s money, police said. Officers said that when the pair told the gunman they had no money, he demanded Cornute’s backpack.

She handed it over and as the gunman rummaged through it, Treanor--the reserve police officer--pulled out his gun, identified himself as an officer and ordered the robber to freeze, police said. When the gunman ignored the order, spun toward the pair and pointed his gun at them, Treanor shot him three times in the upper body, according to detectives.

The robber was taken to Tarzana Regional Medical Center, where he died of his injuries, detectives said.

Police said they do not plan to ask prosecutors to file any charges against Treanor, who has been a Culver City reserve officer for about 18 months.