Suspect Shot in Credit Union Heist Identified

A robbery suspect who was shot by an undercover police officer as he ran from a credit union with a cash box was identified Monday as a 20-year-old Los Angeles man with suspected gang ties, police said.

Jabar Ferguson was listed in good condition Monday at the jail ward of the UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange. He was scheduled to be transferred by this morning to the Orange County Jail, Police Sgt. Joe Vargas said.

Police say Ferguson was one of three gunman who staged a Friday morning takeover robbery at the Cal-Cen Federal Credit Union. Their escape was partially foiled by undercover officers staking out the building.

The undercover officers were lying in wait at several sites Friday, because six other Orange County credit unions had been robbed in recent months, Vargas said.

The robbery was executed so quickly that backup officers did not arrive in time to prevent the escape of the other two gunmen, Vargas said.

Ferguson was shot in the abdomen by an unidentified officer who confronted the three suspects as they left the credit union at 1149 N. Gilbert St. and then chased them through an industrial area, Vargas said. The officer said he fired when Ferguson turned back with a gun in his hand, Vargas said.