Store Owner Shoots Would-Be Robber In Los Angeles County

NORWALK, CA — A shop owner in Norwalk shot and killed a man during a purported robbery Tuesday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and media reports.

Sheriff's detectives are investigating the shooting as a homicide, noting the " victim was transported to a local area hospital and pronounced deceased."

The shooting occurred at about 8:45 a.m. in the 10900 block of East Firestone Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The owner of the Norwalk tobacco shop where the shooting occurred told reporters his partner at the business was pepper-sprayed by the suspects, prompting his partner to grab a gun and open fire, striking one of the intruders.

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Police did not publicly identify the shooter or the dead man.

In all, there were three would-be robbers, and two attempted to flee the scene in a dark coupe but were boxed in and forced to abandon the car on foot, KTLA reported.

Authorities set up a perimeter in the area to search for the pair.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

City News Service contributed to this report.