LOCAL : Gunman Killed, 3 Hurt When Off-Duty Officer Foils Robbery

A gunman was killed and three other people were wounded during an attempted robbery at a Garden Grove restaurant that was foiled by an off-duty police officer, police said.

The incident occurred about 11:20 p.m. Thursday when three men entered Emma Cafe at 9151 Garden Grove Blvd., California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Brey said.

When one of the men pulled out a handgun, an off-duty CHP officer who was dining at the restaurant jumped the armed man and wrestled him for the gun, Brey said.

In the tussle, the gunman was fatally shot and the officer received two bullet wounds to his left arm, Brey said. A customer and a juvenile suspect were also shot and are in stable condition, he said.

Garden Grove Police Officer Stu Finkelstien said that several shots were fired in the struggle and that it is unclear how many guns were involved. The CHP officer was armed, Brey said.

As the shooting began, customers in the restaurant ran for the exits, Brey said, as did two suspects.

The wounded juvenile suspect was later found hiding under a car in the parking lot, authorities said. The third suspect is still at large, they said.

None of the survivors’ injuries appeared to be life-threatening, Brey said.

The CHP officer, who is stationed in Los Angeles, was being treated at UCI Medical Center. His name was being withheld until his relatives could be notified.

Brey said the officer acted bravely, “especially when you consider that he was outnumbered.”