Deputies kill armed suspect at upscale Orange County mall

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. " A man suspected of robbing a jewelry store at an upscale Orange County mall was killed by sheriff's deputies after he opened fire by the parking lot, authorities said.

Orange County Sheriff's deputies responded to a robbery in progress at The Shops at Mission Viejo just before 5:30 p.m., department spokesman Ryan Burris said.

Witnesses to the robbery said the suspect, disguised with a wig, smashed glass cases and took jewelry. They said he then took two women into the back of the store. When he returned to the front, he pulled out a handgun.

The suspect shot at deputies when they confronted him outside the mall near a parking structure, Burris said. Deputies returned fire and struck the man, who later died at an area hospital. No one but the suspect was injured.

Authorities early Monday had not released the name of the gunman.

The mall was shut down but was expected to reopen Monday.

"To see something like this at the mall I go to all the time, it's a shocker," said Tom Ferris, 29. "It just goes to show this kind of thing can happen anywhere."