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Irving Police Shoot, Kill Suspected Armed Robber Outside Cash Store

Police shot and killed a suspected armed robber as he left an Irving cash advance store with a hostage Friday afternoon, authorities said.

Police said they were called to the Cash Store on Esters Boulevard and State Highway 183 at about 1:15 p.m.

When officers arrived, they said a man exited the store with a female employee he was holding hostage.

Two officers opened fire on the man, killing him. The woman was not injured, police said.

"We obviously couldn't permit the suspect to leave with her. Her life was in grave danger. In fact she expressed that toward us, that she felt her life was in danger," said Officer James McLellan, with the Irving Police Department. "She was grateful we were able to intervene. So that's a good ending as far as that goes. There's no harm to her. Our officers did actually an excellent job in preventing any more loss of life."

Christopher Daniels was a customer in the store with his wife at the time of the alleged robbery.

"I did hear him very clearly say, 'Do you think I'm playing?' You know, 'Make another move and I'll kill her,' and things like that," Daniels said.

Daniels said he thought police did what they had to do.

"Exactly what they needed to do. As far as I'm concerned, they saved all of our lives," he said.

Yousef Hajj owns Comfy Furniture near the cash advance business and recorded video of the officers fatally shooting the suspected robber.

"I just immediately pulled out my phone. I started videotaping. All I see is a man, he's holding a lady hostage, he's pulling her out, he's bringing her outside," Hajj said. "There was two cops over here. They're telling him, you know, 'Please drop down the gun. Put it down. Leave her alone. Don't do nothing stupid,' pretty much."

Hajj said the man appeared to be dangerous, and the woman was scared for her life.

"She was pretty terrified. I mean, she was looking death in the face. The man looked over to his left, and the next thing, he was down. He got shot right there and then," Hajj said. "It was so quick. Things happened so fast. This whole place was stormed with police."

Further details have not yet been released and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

NBC 5's Scott Gordon contributed to this report.

Editor's note: Initial reports from the Irving Fire Department indicated there were two people involved in the robbery, including an accomplice outside. Police now say there was only one person involved in the incident.

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