Chapter 209 Tragedy
Hotchner looked like an administrative bureaucrat, but his fighting ability was really not weak. Seeing the gunman being beaten back and forth, Jack silently gave a thumbs up. At least four or five bullets hit the torso.
The heavily armed gunman was beaten back half a step, but obviously the .40in Smith \u0026 Wesson pistol bullet was not enough to penetrate his turtle shell.
Although he was caught off guard, the gunman still fiercely tried to raise the AR-15 again and pointed the gun at Hotchner.
Time seemed to slow down at this moment. As the muzzle of the AR-15 was slowly raised, Hotchner's heartbeat became faster and faster, and his pupils gradually shrank into a small hole.
The shouts and screams around him seemed to gradually fade away. He was still pulling the trigger desperately, but his heart was filled with despair.
He could only watch helplessly as the black muzzle of the rifle was gradually pointed at him, as if he had foreseen that the next second, he would be sieved by bullets pouring down like a torrential rain.
Finally, out of the corner of Hotchner's eye, a figure suddenly appeared. He seemed to have been standing at the back of the pickup truck, but had just been discovered.
Under the gaze of everyone present, Jack held the powerful hand cannon in both hands and pointed it at the astonished gunman.
"boom!"
When the first shot was fired, the narrow viewing window of the level 4 bulletproof helmet shattered, with red and white splattering inside.
"boom!"
The second shot was fired, and the gunman's lower jaw was penetrated because he was shot in the head and tilted back.
"Bang bang. Bang. Bang. Bang."
The bullet holes extended all the way down as the gunman's body fell backwards. The last shot hit the target, and the body that fell heavily to the ground also jumped for the last time.
Everything seemed to return to normal for an instant. The deafening sound of Jack's FK7.5 gun seemed to have just entered his ears, bringing back all the noises at the scene.
Listening to the sirens in the distance, Hotchner felt that at that moment, he seemed to have forgotten how to breathe. He took a few hard and hard breaths before finally letting his lungs come into contact with air again.
"Are you okay?" Jack's loud call brought Hotchner back to reality.
He first put his Glock back into the holster, freed his hand, and loosened his tie, finally making himself feel better.
"You damn bastard, you said you only wanted to help me get a second!"
The foul language blurted out, and Hotchner realized that his voice had changed slightly due to nervousness.
"I never expected you to be so powerful."
Jack replied casually, first replaced the spare magazine for the empty FK7.5, then bent down to pick up the unfinished cup of coffee from the ground and took a sip to moisten his throat that was dry due to nervousness.
Then he walked unhurriedly to the gunman's body and kicked the weapon off the ground.
The yellow and white stuff flowed all over the floor along the helmet, and it was certain that he was dead.
"LAPD, drop your weapons."
"Raise your hand."
With the rapid sound of brakes, a group of police officers gathered around and heard several familiar voices. Jack held the coffee cup in his left hand and the gun in his right hand, raised it high, and then slowly turned around.
"Hey guys."
"Damn it, why is it you, Jack."
Tim, who became superintendent but still took the lead, put down his gun and breathed a sigh of relief.
John, who was originally nervous, stepped forward and patted Jack on the shoulder, looking over his body, and he also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you okay buddy?"
"I'm fine, but the situation inside is not good."
Jack pointed to the inside of the shopping mall gate. Inside, there were civilians lying on the floor in various shapes. Some of them were still wailing, but it was almost certain that at least seven or eight of those who had been shot were dead.
The area near the mall gate was quickly blocked by seven or eight roaring ambulances, but they still could not load all the injured at once. Fortunately, the central hospital was only two hundred meters away, and soon medical staff were pushing them directly. The stretcher arrives.
Officers from the Wilshire Police Department quickly sealed off the scene. After confirming that the gunman had no accomplices, many people, with tears in their eyes, followed the bloodstains to find the wounded who were hiding out of fear.
The gunman's attack lasted only a few minutes, but the casualties he caused were extremely heavy. No less than 20 civilians were killed or injured, including a gray-haired old security guard who was a retired police officer in his 60s.
When the gunman entered the men's room, put on full equipment and came out to shoot at the crowd, the veteran police officer fired at least three times with his Glock 17, hitting two of his shots, but they were all blocked by the ceramic inserts of the body armor.
Jack squatted next to the old police officer's body and saw that the treatment technique he took had no effect, so he regretfully reached out and closed his glaring eyes.
"I know him, old Jim. His daughter has just enrolled in the University of San Francisco. The last time I was drinking at the Police Bar, I heard him complaining to his friends that his daughter's tuition was too expensive. I didn't expect it."
John said sadly.
"When you donate money later, remember to count me in." Jack stood up and sighed.
There was the sound of hurried footsteps beside her. Hannah put on a bulletproof vest with three yellow letters of FBI on it, rushed in front of several people, and nervously checked Jack's whole body.
"I'm fine. The gunman walked out of the gate and was killed by us before he could fire."
Jack took her hand and comforted her softly.
"Has the identity of the murderer been found?"
"Mauricio Novak, 29 years old, joined the Army after graduating from high school in 2008, but was forced to retire three months later due to physical and mental health reasons."
Hotchner had regained his composure at this time and put on his poker face again. Only his fingers that turned white from clenching the phone tightly betrayed his inner emotions.
"The FBI found his driver's license from his pocket. Garcia was looking through his social accounts. It was initially determined that he was a new NC element. His body was covered with tattoos such as anti-swastikas and double lightning bolts."
At this time, a female emergency nurse not far away ran out crying, while several police officers on the side sighed and shook their heads.
Jia Lisi, who is the director of the emergency department of the Central Hospital, also came over with red and swollen eyes. John was worried and hugged her and comforted her softly.
"A family of four, the father, mother and youngest son were all killed on the spot. Only the older son still had vital signs."
"Among the victims were two little girls under ten years old. They should be sisters." Jia Lisi's words caused everyone at the scene to fall silent.
Several male police officers also cursed in a low voice and walked out quickly.
"You two need to get out of here as soon as possible. News reporters are already blocking the outside."
Tim walked over quickly, looking a little anxious. After hearing this, Hannah took off her hat with the letters FBI on it and put it on Jack's head.
Tim, along with John and several LAPD officers, escorted Jack and Hotchner from the crime scene through the side entrance of the mall.
I was so exhausted that I finally got out and went to sleep.
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