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Jewelry Store Employee Fatally Shoots 2 Robbers During Attempted Heist

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO (CBS) — A jewelry store employee fatally shot two suspected robbers during a botched heist Friday morning.

The attempted robbery happened at 11:15 a.m. at Monaco Jewelers, 33955 Doheny Park Road, Orange County Sheriff's department officials said.

"At some point in that robbery, a gunfight broke out in the store between the robbers and the employees. As a result of that gunfight, two of the suspects are dead," said Lt. Steve Doan.

Officials say a third suspect fled the scene. He is described as a black man about six feet tall, wearing a white shirt and dark pants, Doan said.

The California Highway Patrol and sheriff's officials have closed several surrounding streets and evacuated a nearby Costco as they searched the area.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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