A 16-year-old has been taken into custody by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department concerning the fatal incident that claimed the life of Kourosh "Steve" Yaghoubi, a store clerk in South El Monte. According to CBS Los Angeles, Yaghoubi was attempting to deter a shoplifting incident on April 9 when he ultimately lost his life after being run over by the alleged thieves.
Investigators have been working to unravel the details of the crime, which began to unfold around 12:20 p.m. at the Giant Discount Store on Durfee Avenue. It was here that a group of individuals stole a box of disposable masks valued at $10 and were confronted by Yaghoubi. In a statement obtained by KTLA, authorities detailed that the victim was subsequently attacked, leading to blunt force trauma, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect, whose identity is protected due to his minor status, was caught on April 18 and is expected to have charges filed against him by the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office.
While a single arrest has been made, the search for additional suspects continues. According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, several other individuals observed in the getaway vehicle are still being sought by authorities. The family has indicated that the suspects fled in a light blue Honda, a detail that could aid in tracking down those still at large.
"Doors open, two other guys exit the car, and one of them punches my brother in the head, he holds his head and he goes down," Yaghoubi's brother, Jim, recalled the harrowing moment in an interview with ABC7. He described witnessing his brother's life painfully drawn away as the thieves ran him over not once, but twice. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department urges anyone with information to come forward and contact the LASD’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500 to help bring the remaining suspects to justice.
