HAWTHORNE POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
January 8, 2014
On January 7, 2014, at approximately 5:14pm, Hawthorne Police Department Patrol Officers responded to reports of an armed robbery / shots fired call at the “El Bodeguero Market” located at 4516 W. Imperial Highway, Hawthorne, CA.
Once at the store, officers were able to ascertain from the owner that a male black adult entered the store and made his way behind the open sales counter. The suspect was armed with a handgun and at some point racked the slide arming the weapon. The suspect then began rummaging through various boxes behind the counter looking for money as the owner of the store attempted to open the cash register. Suddenly the owner heard a gunshot and realized that he had been shot in the back of the leg by the suspect. The owner fell to the ground in pain as the suspect collected the stores money and fled the location. The owner’s family, including small children were present during the incident and rendered aid to their father until Los Angeles County Paramedics arrived on scene to treat the victim. He was then transported to an area hospital for the gunshot wound suffered, and was listed in stable condition.
The suspect is described as a Male Black Adult, approximately 25-30 years old, 6’-00”- 6’-02”, 200-210 pounds. He was wearing a dark colored zip up jacket with hood (over his head), light colored t-shirt, light colored pants, tennis shoes, and some type of black mask over his face.
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Hawthorne Police Detectives are investigating the crime and are asking anyone with information related to this crime, or the identity of the suspect involved, to call Detective Paul Vu or Detective Andrew Batstone at (310) 349-2820.
Contact: Lieutenant Scott Swain
Detective Bureau Commander / Public Information Officer
(310) 349-2835 Desk