Bank Robber Is Fatally Shot While Fleeing Police

A suspected bank robber was shot and killed early Friday outside his Studio City luxury apartment while attempting to flee from police and FBI agents.

Anthony Gamboa, 24, was shot by a West Covina police officer in the hallway when he ran from his apartment on the 4100 block of Arch Drive carrying a small duffel bag, authorities said.

West Covina officers, accompanied by federal agents, were serving a search and arrest warrant for Gamboa, said Lt. Darryl Myrick of the West Covina Police Department. Gamboa was wanted in connection with two armed bank robberies of the Pacific Western Bank in West Covina in November 1997 and September 1998, as well as an armed robbery of a supermarket in Cambria, Calif., he said.

In the September robbery, Gamboa allegedly hurdled the teller counter with a hand gun and demanded money. Later, as five bank employees huddled inside a vault for protection, SWAT teams searched the bank and surrounding area for several hours before giving up.

Around 6:15 a.m. Friday, an officer called Gamboa on the telephone and ordered him to surrender to police waiting outside, said Sheriff’s Deputy Bob Killeen.

Instead, the man ran from his apartment. A police dog grabbed and held the man, but Gamboa began to reach into his bag. Thinking he might be reaching for a weapon, the officer fired twice, wounding him once in the chest, Killeen said.

Gamboa was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he was pronounced dead, Killeen said.

Detectives recovered from the bag a semi-automatic handgun and several hundred dollars in wrapped currency, believed to be from the bank, Killeen said, adding that no officers were injured in the incident.