On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 8:45 am, deputies from Norwalk Sheriff’s Station responded to a shopping center located on the 10000 block of Firestone Boulevard regarding a robbery in progress call. Upon arrival, deputies found a male adult lying on the ground, in the parking lot, suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel responded and transported the male to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The male has been identified as 25-year-old, Rodney Gaston, of Oakland.
Deputies contacted the store owner of “Classic Tobacco,” who told them he had shot Gaston after Gaston tried to rob him.
Homicide Investigators learned the store owner was in the process of opening his business for the day when Gaston approached the front door of the business armed with a large canister of pepper spray and a handgun. Two adult males followed Gaston at a distance. Gaston pepper sprayed the store owner near the threshold of the business’ front door, at which point the store owner fired one round from a handgun striking Gaston.
Gaston and the two additional males fled east through the parking lot of the shopping center. Gaston ultimately collapsed onto the ground, a short distance away from the business.
The two males fled into the residential area northeast of the shopping center where they were later located and detained by Norwalk Station deputies.
The two males were identified as 22-year-old, Lamont Neal, of Stockton, and 26-year-old, Dashaunte Woods, of Oakland.
Through investigation, homicide investigators determined Neal and Woods were acting in concert with Gaston. Neal and Woods were subsequently arrested and booked for robbery.
The investigation remains ongoing.
There are no additional updates at this time.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWS:
DATE: Tuesday, August 6, 2024
REPORTED AT: Approximately 8:54 a.m.
LOCATION: 10900 block of Firestone Boulevard, Norwalk
VICTIM(S): (1) Male Adult
SUSPECT(S): Unknown
UNIT: Homicide Bureau – Lieutenant Daniel Vizcarra
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide investigators are responding to a shooting death investigation. The incident was reported Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at approximately 8:54 a.m. on the 10900 block of Firestone Boulevard, in the city of Norwalk.
The victim was transported to a local area hospital and pronounced deceased.
There is no additional information available at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
Forwarded by:
Sheriff's Information Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
211 West Temple Street
Los Angeles California 90012
http://www.lasd.org
213-229-1700
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Robert G. Luna, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
