Taco stand employee fatally shoots robbery suspect in South LA, police say
LOS ANGELES (CNS / FOX 11) - One of three would-be robbers was shot and killed by an employee at a taco stand that the three men were trying to rob in South Los Angeles, a Los Angeles police lieutenant said Saturday.
The dead man was 19 years old, according to a watch sergeant at the LAPD's Southeast station.
The shooting took place at the intersection of San Pedro Street and West Century Boulevard at about 11:30 p.m. Friday, LAPD Lt. Clint Dohmen said.
"Three men walked up to the taco stand with the intention of robbing it,'' Dohmen said. "One of the men pulled out a handgun and one of the employees at the taco stand pulled out his gun and fired at the robbers.''
The would-be robber with a gun was shot and later died at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Dohmen continued.
His name was withheld pending notification of next of kin, according to the coroner's office.
"Right now it looks like the employee was acting in self defense to protect himself and the other employee at the taco stand,'' Dohmen added.
The employee remained under investigation this morning, Dohmen said. The other two would-be robbers fled the scene on foot and remain at large, police said.
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