Outside, the first-responding officers heard gunfire from the bank and made another radio call for additional units before taking cover behind their patrol car, weapons trained on the bank doors. While the robbers were still inside, more patrol and detective units arrived and took strategic positions at all four corners of the bank, effectively surrounding it. At approximately 9:24 am, Phillips exited through the north doorway and after spotting a police cruiser away, opened fire for several minutes, wounding seven officers and three other civilians. He also fired at an LAPD helicopter flown by Charles D. Perriguey Jr. which was surveying above, forcing it to withdraw to a safer distance. He briefly retreated inside, then reemerged through the north doorway, while Mătăsăreanu exited through the south exit.