Victims Stand Up to Armed Gunman, Then Chase Him, Before Police Find and Arrest the Suspect After 5-Hour Manhunt

The victims in a Northwest Pasadena neighborhood market robbery turned on a gunman Wednesday afternoon, who fired at least shot and fled before being arrested by SWAT officers after a five-hour manhunt.

The suspect, Justin Shawn Bryson, 21, of Pasadena, reportedly has a record with a prior arrest for receiving known stolen property and a prior conviction for robbery.

Police said the incident began at about 12:49 p.m. when an armed robber, his face covered with a bandana, entered Chan’s Market  in the 1200 block of Lincoln Avenue and demanded cash from the clerk.

The clerk, a 57-year-old La Crescenta resident, moved away from the register area and began throwing items at the suspect.
The suspect fired a single shot from his handgun in the direction of the victim and then ran out of the store, police said.

As the would-be robber fled, police said he pointed his handgun at a 47-year old woman near the exit.

Outside, he ran on foot northbound on Lincoln Avenue.

The store clerk jumped into his car and pursued the suspect. He was joined by other store customers in a second car giving chase, two Pasadena women aged 50-years old and 70-years-old and a 10-year-old girl.

During the victims’ pursuit of the suspect in their vehicles, the suspect at one point reportedly turned around and fired at least one gunshot at the victims. None of the pursuers was injured.

The pursuers lost sight of robber in the vicinity of MacDonald Street between Mentone Avenue and Glen Avenue.

Responding police initially established a wide containment area, and patrol officers and Special Enforcement Section officers, backed by a police helicopter combed the area for the suspect. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Bloodhound Units were also deployed during the search.

Bryson was ultimately found in the 200 block of MacDonald Street where he voluntarily surrendered to SWAT officers.

Detectives executed a search warrant at the location and police said “evidence was recovered.”

The suspect was arrested for attempted murder and booked at the city jail. Records show Bryson is being held on $1 million bail.