Family and community members mourned Wednesday the death of a 29-year-old man who was fatally stabbed during a robbery at his parents’ doughnut shop in the Florence neighborhood of South Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles Police Department officials.
It is unclear where the young man was fatally wounded, but police say the robbery took place at a Louisiana fried chicken and doughnut shop near West Florence Avenue and South Broadway Street (map) around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday.
The alleged robber ordered food before stealing money from an open register and fleeing, LAPD Officer Drake Madison said.
The 29-year-old then chased after the alleged robber, according to Madison, and was fatally stabbed in an alleyway. The officer added that police strongly advise victims against making contact with potentially dangerous people.
In a different account, LAPD Lt. Jeff Nolte said the alleged robber stabbed the victim during the robbery.
“He demanded money, committed a robbery. During that commission of a robbery he fatally stabbed the clerk behind the counter,” Nolte said.
The employee was transported to a hospital where he later died.
The death was a loss for the community of people who frequent the family-owned business, Nolte said.
“This is obviously really tragic for that family. This business has been here for some time. It impacts not only the family, but it’s impacting the community. Many people in this neighborhood come to this location every day,” he said.
One frequent patron who only provided her first name to KTLA said she knew the business owners and their son for a long time.
“That was my coffee guy, I got coffee from him every morning … They’ve been here forever. As long as I’ve been here, they’ve been here. They’re good people. He was good people,” Shauntee said.
Investigators were canvassing the area Wednesday morning for witnesses and surveillance footage, which Nolte said they had not yet viewed.
The alleged robber was described as a black man, possibly in his 30s, wearing a dark hooded shirt and black beanie. He was last seen running westbound on West Florence Avenue.
It was not known how much money he made off with, Nolte said.
Anyone with information was asked to contact LAPD South Bureau’s Homicide Division at 213-485-1383.
