Weapons Raid On Store Foiled By Silent Alarm
Sunday, August 22nd, 1971
HAWTHORNE, Calif., Aug. 22 – A silent burglar alarm foiled a weapons rail on a war surplus store Saturday night and set off a 25-minute gun battle between police and six raiders, including two women.
One of five suspects captured was Catherine “Gypsy” Share, 28, a member of the Charles Manson family. Miss Share and two other suspects, including another woman, were slightly wounded in the gun battle.
Police said the five burst into the Western Surplus Store near closing time and held customers and employes at bay while they cleaned out several weapons display cases.
Authorities said the “hippie type” suspects slacked 100 weapons inside a waiting van and were binding about 40 more with tape when a police patrol, car scaled off one end of the narrow alley behind the store.
Lt. Jim Covic said three of the suspects opened fire and riddled his patrol car after he radioed for help. Police armed with shotguns arrived from El Segundo, Redondo Beach and Lennox.
The five suspects were booked on suspicion of armed robbery and assault with intent to commit murder. A sixth raider is believed to have fled on foot.
The wounded suspects were identified as Joseph Jones, 21, and 3 woman, Jerry Sherwin, 24, Torrance. Two others were taken into custody by the Hawthorne police and one was identified as Robert King, 24, Hawthorne.
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