On the morning of 12 April 2025, Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Matasareanu led one of the biggest gun battles in Los Angeles history after robbing a Bank of America, firing more than 2,000 rounds at police before they died.
On Feb. 28 , 1997 , two armed men entered a Bank of America in Los Angeles and tried to make off with hundreds of thousands of dollars . When they give the building , they were immediately skirt by law .
or else of surrendering , however , the robbers started firing their weapon — and the bloody North Hollywood gunfight began .
Twitter / AVNTThe North Hollywood shootout was one of the swelled gun battle in Los Angeles history .
Twitter/AVNTThe North Hollywood shootout was one of the biggest gun battles in Los Angeles history.
Larry Phillips Jr. , 26 , and Emil Matasareanu , 30 , were known to L.A. police as the “ High Incident Bandits ” for their frequent thefts and robberies , but authorities had never been able to catch them . Even on the sunup of the gunplay , it seemed as if they may escape once again .
The bank robber had donned body armor and stockpile automatic rifles with yard of round of drinks of ammo . At the meter , police in L.A. were gird with only 9 mm handguns . The officers at the scene were n’t certain that they stand a hazard again Phillips and Matasareanu — but by the remainder of the bloody battle , the L.A.P.D. had prevailed .
Phillips and Matasareanu both cash in one’s chips in the North Hollywood shootout , bring an end to their lives of law-breaking . In addition to leave behind a tragical legacy of bloodshed , the men ’s military action also contribute to the militarization of L.A. ’s police force — all in 44 little minutes .
Wikimedia CommonsIn 1993, Larry Phillips (pictured here) and Emil Matasareanu were arrested with a trove of weapons and sentenced to four months in county jail.
How Larry Phillips And Emil Matasareanu Became Known As The “High Incident Bandits”
Future coin bank robber Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Matasareanu first met at an L.A. Gold ’s Gym , according toMEL Magazine . They quickly bonded over weightlift and their share love of heist photographic film .
Wikimedia CommonsIn 1993 , Larry Phillips ( figure here ) and Emil Matasareanu were arrested with a treasure trove of weapons and sentenced to four months in county clink .
The man eventually had the idea to carry out their own heists , and in June 1995 , they entrust their first looting . Phillips and Matasareanu shoot and killed the guard of an armored Brinks hand truck outside of a bank as dozens of witnesses looked on . They managed to escape and began planning their next crime .
Wikimedia CommonsEmil Matasareanu’s mugshot from the bandits’ 1993 arrest.
WhenHeat , an action thriller starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino , was released in December 1995 , Phillips and Matasareanu were freshly inspired . In early 1996 , they seek to rob yet another Brinks truck . They chased the armored truck down while inject at it , but their bullets plainly bounce off . When the human being substantiate they were n’t making any advance , they ditched their van and jell it on flak , just as they ’d seen inHeat .
Wikimedia CommonsEmil Matasareanu ’s mugshot from the bandits ’ 1993 halt .
Over the next two years , Phillips and Matasareanu robbed at least two other banks , time their grip - ups for mornings when they knew immediate payment had just been delivered . They used this same method while planning their heist of the North Hollywood Bank of America — but things quickly go dreadfully wrong .
Twitter/Ryan FonsecaThe clothes that Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Matasareanu were wearing during the North Hollywood shootout.
The Bungled Robbery Of The North Hollywood Bank Of America
At 9:17 a.m. on Feb. 28 , 1997 , Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Matasareanu arrive at the Bank of America in North Hollywood . They synchronized their watches , lease muscle relaxers to calm their nerves , and entered the building .
According toMEL Magazine , one witness recalled : “ I hear gunshots and call voices — men ’s part — yelling , ‘ This is a grasp - up ! ’ I expect up , and I saw this prominent guy all in black , like armor . You could n’t see his face . ”
The man had donned ski masks and body armour , and they carried automatic rifle that were modify to blast directly through the doors to the bank ’s bulletproof hurdle .
Wikimedia CommonsEmil Matasareanu moments before his death.
John Caparelli , an L.A.P.D. officer who responded to the scene when emergency calls go coming through , noted , “ The bit we heard the shady description over despatch , we knew incisively who these guys were . ”
Twitter / Ryan FonsecaThe apparel that Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Matasareanu were wearing during the North Hollywood shootout .
Phillips and Matasareanu rank everyone inside the bank to get on the floor and then blasted give the room access of the vault . When they walk inside , however , they substantiate that the cash for the daylight had not yet been delivered .
Twitter/LAPD HQPolice officers crouch behind a car during the North Hollywood shootout.
The serviceman had anticipate at least $ 750,000 to be inside the vault , but or else , there was only around $ 300,000 . They get down filling their bags with money , but Matasareanu became enraged at the change in plans and opened fire , destroy the remaining cash inside .
Due to the complication , the hold - up had read Phillips and Matasareanu longer than they expect . When they come forth from the Bank of America , they were already surround by police officer . Rather than put their hands up , however , the men double down on their plan and decided to fight back — no matter the cost .
Inside The 44-Minute North Hollywood Shootout
Though Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Matasareanu were outnumbered by the L.A.P.D. , they had much more powerful weapons than the officers , and they wore so much body armour that it was well-nigh impossible to take them down . Per theLos Angeles Daily News , they also carry more than 3,300 rounds of ammunition . give way their reward , the robbers opened fire , attempting to shoot their way to freedom .
One of the officers on the scene , Bill Lantz , later on come back : “ It was like the movieHeat , slug spraying everywhere . Our car started taking round . Plink , plink . The window shattered . The abstemious stripe was shatter . ”
understand their predicament , some of the police officers cannonball along into a nearby gun shop . The owner devote them six semi - robotlike rifle , two semi - robotlike side arm , and 4,000 rounds of ammo so they could fight back .
Wikimedia CommonsEmil Matasareanu here and now before his death .
The programme seemed to work . Around 9:52 ante meridiem , Phillips and Matasareanu part up . Phillips stoop behind a motortruck to cover shooting at the police , but his rifle jammed . He pulled out his backup handgun , but an police officer shot him in the bridge player . face frustration , Larry Phillips Jr. settle to kill himself with his Beretta .
Meanwhile , Matasareanu had tried to hijack a bystander ’s Jeep to escape . call up quickly , the Jeep ’s owner took the key with him as he abandoned the vehicle , leaving Matasareanu strand . The robber or else took covert behind the Jeep and keep firing at the officers that smother him .
The constabulary crouched down and start out shoot at Matasareanu ’s unarmored legs beneath the fomite . They strike him a total of 29 sentence , and he finally tried to surrender . By that point , however , Emil Matasareanu had lost too much line . He pop off in handcuffs on the mineral pitch .
The North Hollywood gunfight was over 44 minutes after it had begin .
The Enduring Legacy Of The North Hollywood Shootout
Despite the fact that more than 2,000 full rounds were fire during the North Hollywood shootout , Phillips and Matasareanu were the only human death . Eleven officers and seven civilian bystander were wound in the central of gunshot , as cover byABC 7 , but all of them recovered .
Of the mark of L.A.P.D. officers who reply , 19 of them received Medals of Valor and were invite to receive President Bill Clinton .
Twitter / LAPD HQPolice officers crouch behind a car during the North Hollywood gunfight .
But perhaps the most important development to come from the aftermath of the North Hollywood shootout was the militarisation of L.A. ’s law force . Officials realized that malefactor had access to larger , more muscular weapons , and their 9 mm side arm could no longer keep up .
According toCrime Museum , the Pentagon armed the L.A.P.D. with military - grade rifles . This mobilisation soon keep in other major cities , and today almost every major law force in the nation has access to some of the most ripe weapons available .
In the destruction , Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Matasareanu never truly receive their instant ofHeat - inspired aura — but they did go down as the instigators of one of the biggest gun battles in the history of Los Angeles .
After acquire about the North Hollywood Shootout , take thereal story that inspiredDog Day Afternoon . Then , learn whyex - L.A.P.D. officer Christopher Dornerwent on a vindictive shooting fling in Los Angeles .
