The murder took place on the afternoon of April 17 near 7th St. and Vermont Ave., next to a Korean-owned liquor store.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the owner of the strip mall where the incident occurred, a man who had been stabbed entered the store at around 5 p.m. and collapsed on the floor, screaming for help.
The liquor store employee immediately called 911 and the police and paramedics arrived, but the victim died at the scene. The victim’s body was at the scene for several hours after police arrived.
“When I got the call, I immediately rushed over to check out the scene and the police briefed me on what happened,” said the business owner, who bought the store two years ago, adding, “This is the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced.”
The homicide is being investigated by the Olympic Police Department and the LAPD’s West Division.
According to officers at the scene, the suspect and the victim got into an altercation on the street near the Liquor Store. The Hispanic suspect wearing jeans reportedly fled on foot toward Wilshire Blvd.
The victim was reportedly wearing a hoodie with “LA” written on it.
Other businesses in the strip mall, including a barbecue restaurant, a spicy hot pot restaurant, a taco shop and a coin laundromat, closed for the day as police responded to the incident.
BY JEONG-IL RYU [support@koreadaily.com]
