A security guard was fatally shot during what is believed to be an attempted robbery at an East Los Angeles marijuana dispensary, early Monday morning. According to ABC7, two suspects attempted to rob the 24-hour business on Whittier Boulevard just before 2 a.m. when the incident occurred.
During the confrontation, the guard was shot in the chest, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reports. Responding deputies found the guard fatally wounded, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Another employee present during the incident was unharmed. As of now, the suspects remain at large, last seen fleeing in a dark-colored SUV, and, it is unclear if they succeeded in taking anything from the dispensary.
In a separate occurrence, roughly 30 minutes earlier, another marijuana dispensary was targeted in Whittier. This incident involved multiple masked suspects who robbed the establishment and left with both cash and merchandise. They, too, made their escape in a vehicle, described as a white Tesla. The Sheriff's Department has yet to determine whether these two events are connected, as reported by ABC7.
Details concerning the events leading up to the shooting at the East LA dispensary are still being pieced together by homicide detectives from the LA County Sheriff’s Department. A statement obtained by FOX LA indicated that the investigators had not confirmed whether the death was directly tied to a robbery or burglary. Meanwhile, the identity of the security guard has not been released, as authorities continue their investigation.
The department is asking anyone with information to step forward and contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. In the wake of these violent events, the local community and dispensary workers are on edge, concerned about a potential trend of increasing crime targeting these cash-intensive businesses.
