The owner of a Norwalk tobacco shop fatally shot one of at least three people who attempted to rob the store, authorities said Tuesday.
The attempted robbery occurred at about 9 a.m. Tuesday in the 10900 block of East Firestone Boulevard, near the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
One of the store’s owners told KCAL9 that his partner at the business was pepper-sprayed during the attempted robbery, prompting him to grab a gun and open fire, striking one of the intruders.
The wounded man died at a hospital, according to the sheriff’s department. His name was not immediately released.
The other suspects fled the scene on foot, prompting authorities to set up a perimeter in the area, according to the sheriff’s department. Some reports from the scene indicated that two suspects were taken into custody late Tuesday morning, but sheriff’s officials did not immediately confirm the arrests. ABC7 reported that four people were involved in the attempted crime, and that one was still on the loose late Tuesday.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.