Police searching for armed suspects who ambushed, robbed armored truck at Hustler Casino in Gardena

Police responded to reports of a shootout Thursday morning after multiple armed suspects "ambushed" and robbed an armored truck outside the Hustler Casino in Gardena, police said.

Los Angeles County fire officials said they were called to the casino just before 10:15 a.m. after receiving reports of shots fired.  

Gardena Police say a security guard, working for an armored cash delivery company, was making a cash delivery to the casino when the suspects opened fire. As the security guards exited the armored vehicle, the suspects who were waiting in the parking lot, opened fire on the security guards... initiating an armored car robbery, police said in a statement.  

Investigators said the suspects who surrounded the armored truck were heavily armed, with at least one suspect carrying a semi-automatic rifle. The suspects got away with an unknown amount of money from the armored truck.

One security guard was shot in the leg and was transported to the hospital in critical condition. He is expected to survive. A second guard was also transported to the hospital for laceration injuries.

A large armed police presence responded to the casino and was actively searching the establishment and the surrounding areas for the suspects.

A vehicle belonging to the suspects was recovered, however police are still searching for the suspects… it is unknown how many people were involved in the crime. 

Police say they got away with at least one bag of cash.  

The casino is located at the intersection of Vermont Avenue and E. Redondo Boulevard in Gardena. The city is located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles about 15 minutes south of downtown LA.

City News Service contributed to this report.