CBS NEWS
This undated photo released by the Los Angeles Police Department shows suspect Christopher Dorner, a former Los Angeles officer. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Police Department)
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) - Two law enforcement officers have been injured during an ongoing shootout with triple-murder suspect Christopher Dorner.
Dorner, who is said to be heavily armed, reportedly broke into a couple's home and tied them up -- possibly days ago -- before stealing their vehicle.
WATCH: Live video coverage from the scene
He was later spotted by authorities and repeated gunshots were exchanged on Glass Road, west of 7 Oaks just after 1:30 p.m. local time.
Officials requested an armored vehicle to help remove the injured from the scene. A SWAT team was also called in to set up a perimeter of the area.
KCAL9 reporter Carter Evans suddenly found himself near the fight. Someone could be heard yelling at Evans to get out of the area as loud gunfire rang out during his live report. Evans has since gotten out of the area safely.
The injured officers have been airlifted to a local hospital. Their conditions are unknown.
The earlier incident at a home in the 1200 block of Club View Road,
which is located near Highway 38 and Glass Road, was reported around
12:20 p.m. The suspect reportedly tied up a couple and stole their 2008
four-door, white Dodge 4X4 truck, which is registered to nearby Camp
Tahquitz. One of the victims was able to escape and alert authorities, who later recovered a rifle and possibly a can of gas.
"The reporting party said the suspect took their vehicle and
described the suspect as looking very similar to Dorner," a Sheriff's
Public Affairs spokesperson said in a statement.
Highway 38, as well as all roads in and out of Big Bear, have been shut down.
Bear Valley Unified School District confirms all four of its
schools -- Big Bear High School, Chautauqua High School, Baldwin Lane
Elementary School and Fallsvale Elementary School - have been locked
down.
Authorities Monday reduced the number of law enforcement officers patrolling the Big Bear area from several hundred to just 30.
Dorner is accused in the murders of 28-year-old Monica Quan and her
27-year-old fiancé, Keith Lawrence, in Irvine on Feb. 3 and Riverside
Police Officer Michael Crain on Feb. 7. His burned out truck was found
near Bear Mountain later that day.
Dorner was employed as a Los Angeles police officer from 2005 to
2008, when he was fired for making false allegations against a fellow
officer. Quan's father, a former LAPD Captain, represented Dorner in the
hearing that ultimately lead to his dismissal from the force.
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