The North Hollywood Shootout (Annotated)

By: Scott Murphy

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

February 28, 1997. Early morning. Larry Phillips, Jr. and Emil Matasareanu were on their way to the North Hollywood Bank of America branch. In the trunk of their 1987 Chevrolet Celebrity, more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition, and five rifles, including 2 converted automated Norinco Type 56 S rifles. Their plan was simple: enter the bank, scare bank employees and customers, neutralize as need be the security guards, break the vault, steal the money, exit 8 minutes later, get away, and then celebrate. Their plan would turn for the worst, to the most violent 44-minute long shootout in modern American police history...