Full Notification

Store Owner Shot to Death in Apparent Robbery

Arleta.  Detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of the 34-year-old owner of a wireless phone store on Woodman Avenue.  Around 8:40 PM, July 8, witnesses reported seeing a heavy-set man confronting the victim on the sidewalk in front of the store front.

“Another bystander flagged a passing fire truck to help a man who was apparently shot,” explained Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division.  “9-1-1 received several other calls of witnesses reporting the shooting.”

Fire fighters and police found the victim shot multiple times, lying on the sidewalk, just feet from his business.  It appeared he was closing the business when the confrontation that led to his death occurred.  The man died at the scene, and a woman later arrived, who claimed to be his wife, and confirmed him as the store owner since February.

“We’re asking anyone with information to come forward to help us solve this case quickly,” Lt. Vernon said.  “Right now, this appears to be a robbery, but we’ll have to look deeper to know for sure.  What we can count on, though, is people talk, and we need anyone with information to step up so we can solve this for this man’s wife.”

Witnesses described the suspect as a heavy-set Hispanic man, wearing a white shirt and carrying a gun.  Detectives recovered several cartridges from the gun at the crime scene.  The suspect was last seen running south on Woodman Avenue for quite a distance.

The address of the business is 8940 Woodman Avenue.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Efren Gutierrez, Mission Homicide Unit, at (818) 838-9948.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

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