Tragedy struck Friday morning during a brazen armed robbery at a Mid-City strip mall, leaving one person dead. It all unfolded around 10:15 a.m. on the 5400 block of Venice Boulevard, close to the intersection of Hauser and Venice Boulevards, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Here’s what happened: A group of armed suspects stormed into a business in the strip mall, guns drawn. In the chaos, shots were fired, and someone inside the store was hit. But this wasn’t one-sided—one of the victims inside fought back, exchanging gunfire with the robbers. That brave act injured one of the suspects.
The situation escalated quickly. Two of the robbers scrambled to escape, jumping into a Lexus and speeding off. Meanwhile, they left their injured accomplice behind. Paramedics rushed the wounded suspect to a nearby hospital, but it was too late. He didn’t survive.
As for the person inside the store who was shot, their condition remains unclear for now, leaving family and friends anxious for updates.
The robbery sent shockwaves through the community, even prompting a lockdown at Saturn Street Elementary School, just a block away from the scene. Understandably, safety was the top concern as investigators combed through evidence and tried to piece together what happened.
Police are now on the hunt for the two suspects who fled, urging anyone with information to come forward. Residents in the area remain shaken, grappling with the reality of violence hitting so close to home.
