A suspect has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of an employee at a Rite Aid in Glassell Park earlier this month, police said Tuesday.
The shooting happened on July 15, when employee 36-year-old Miguel Penaloza confronted two men who tried to leave the store in the 4000 block of Eagle Rock Boulevard with two cases of beer they didn’t pay for, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
After a brief struggle, one of the suspects shot and killed Penaloza, police said.
Anthony Lemus of Los Angeles was arrested at 7:45 p.m. Monday after he turned himself in, LAPD officer Lizeth Lomeli told KTLA. His bail was set at $2 million.
LAPD didn’t confirm whether Lemus is suspected of being the shooter or the other suspect involved.
Both suspects were described as being men between 18 to 20 years old.
Penaloza was a member of employee union United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, which said employees have been concerned about the store’s safety for months.
“No one should have to fear for their lives while they shop or work in a retail store,” the union said in a statement following the shooting, adding that Rite Aid has refused to provide adequate security for its employees and “placed profit over safety and refused security for its employees.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact LAPD Central Bureau’s Detective Riojas at 213-996-4149, or Detective Manriquez at 213-996-4180.