Domestic abuse victim uses hand signal to escape convicted felon at SoCal 7

A simple yet powerful hand signal popularized on TikTok helped a woman escape a domestic violence incident at a 7-Eleven in Alhambra, police said.

A bystander called 911 after witnessing a woman in the store give the “signal for help” behind her back, a gesture that involves tucking your thumb into your palm and trapping it with four fingers on top. Alhambra police officers quickly responded to the call and found the woman and the suspect inside the 7-Eleven at 2150 S. Fremont Ave. on Aug. 19.

The suspect, identified as John Palombi of Glendora, attempted to flee the scene after officers asked to speak to him outside the store. Recently released body camera video shows Palombi, 38, ditching two plastic bags and a Big Bite hot dog box before running away from the officers, who catch h