Employees held hostage in California Target store

Police were on the scene of a hostage situation at a Target store in Culver City, California

Standoff follows botched robbery

CULVER CITY, California (CNN) -- Police detained at least two suspects and were looking for another suspected gunman in a botched robbery and hostage situation at a Target store this morning, police said.

Culver City spokeswoman Randi Joseph said the two people exited the building in a group of about 15 people.

The remaining 13 people exiting the building were determined to be employees. Because the robbers were reported to be wearing Target uniforms, police searched the individuals one at a time as they left the store.

Joseph said another group of between 20 and 25 people left the store later in the day. It was unclear how many people remained inside the store. A third suspect, who she said was believed to be dressed in black, was thought to be still inside the store.

There were no reports of gunfire or injuries.

There were conflicting reports from Culver City police about the number of people detained.

Police Sgt. Lou Castle earlier told CNN that three people had been detained as suspects and that a fourth suspect was outstanding. He said officers had not yet searched the store, so it was unclear if the fourth suspect was inside or how many employees remained inside the store.

"There were somewhere between three and five armed robbers with about 40 employees in the store," said Joseph.

A hostage crisis team and a SWAT team from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were sent to the scene.

The store was not open when the incident was first reported, but a number of employees, possibly 40 to 50, were believed to be inside.

The spokesman said police went through the parking lot, checking license plate numbers to determine who may have been inside.

Culver City is 14 miles southwest of Los Angeles.

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Culver City
Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
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