Gunmen sought after dairy clerk killed in possible robbery attempt

LANCASTER, CA (FOX 11) - A lone employee of a drive-thru dairy store who many say was well-liked was killed Monday morning in a possible robbery. The gunmen are still at large.

"I'm still puzzled by it, I could have been in there, it could have been my shift to work." Said VP Racing employee Gerald Turner.

Turner was a co-worker of the gas station clerk who was shot and killed early monday morning.

"I don't understand some people they're just out for blood when they come they come to kill." Said Turner.

"It's pretty scary, one of the bullets could have came over here." Said Hector Perez. He was working at Primo Tires near Division Street and Avenue J right across the street from the VP Racing gas station and mini mart. Security video from the auto repair shop shows Perez on the phone when gunshots rang out.

"I heard two gunshots and I saw some dude run that way and two people run that way over there." Said Perez.
Perez says he also
saw a white car fleeing the area, something his shop's camera captured but the Sheriff's Department hasn't confirmed to Fox 11.

Investigators say, two male suspects entered the gas station around 8:30 am and shot the clerk during a robbery.

"Two individuals inside the store it appears that at one point, the clerk turned toward those individuals, the suspect opened fire on the person that was working behind the counter." Said Lt. Joe Mendoza, LA Co. Sheriff's Dept.

Investigators say, the suspects ran off. News of the shooting saddened Sam Sayeth a clerk at a liquor store across the street.

"He's my best customer, he was coming like 2-3 times a day." Said J's Liquor Clerk, Sayeth.

He's known the victim, an older man he calls John, for more than five years.

"He was an honest man, everybody liked him." Sayeth said.

Other residents echoed that sentiment and expressed shock and anger over John's death.

"He's always nice, I hope they catch whoever did it because that's really sad."Said Lancaster resident Vivieca Smith. Sheriff's investigators have reviewed the gas station's security videos but only have a vague description of the perpetrators. They're asking for the public's help to find the men who gunned down the clerk. Anyone with information is urged to contact the LA County Sheriff's Department.