Gunman in LA Apparently Got Away From SDA Church

[Key Guy]

SWAT Team Searches For Possible Gunman At A Church

Source: http://cbs2.com/local/local_story_355193251.html

Quote:

(CBS) RIVERSIDE, Calif. A Riverside police SWAT team was called to look for a suspect inside a church Thursday after reports that a man walked into the building wielding a gun.

"We had intial reports of shots fired, but that turned out to be wrong -- no shots were fired, " Riverside Police Lt. Bruce Loftus said.

According to Loftus, a man walked into the Mount Rubidoux Seventh Day Adventist Chuch at 5320 Victoria Ave. around 12:30 p.m. offering Christmas ornaments for sale. An employee of the church told police that while she was speaking to the suspect, he flashed a handgun, Loftus said.

The frightened woman ran to call police and thought she heard a shot ring out, but that later turned out to be a mistake, according to Loftus.

"There was also a report of a hostage being taken, and that's when SWAT was contacted," he said.

The SWAT unit stormed the church and spent more than an hour searching for the suspect and the alleged hostage, Loftus said.

"Nobody was there," he said. "The guy was gone probably before the first call went out."

According to police, the "all clear" signal was given at 3 p.m.

There was no immediate description available on the suspect.

[Key Guy]

Full text and video: http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_D_rgunman22.392a1f6.html

Quote:

RIVERSIDE - A man wearing a Santa hat while selling Christmas gifts pulled a gun on workers at Mt. Rubidoux Seventh-day Adventist Church on Thursday afternoon after they rejected his sales pitch.

No one was hurt in the incident at the church on Victoria Avenue near Central Avenue, but five adults and two children were evacuated while police searched the church with a SWAT team, Riverside police Sgt. Leon Phillips and church workers said.

Police ended the search shortly after 3 p.m. without finding the gunman, Phillips said.