Manhunt Intensifies For Robber Who Fatally Shot Arleta Store Owner

ARLETA (CBSLA.com) — Investigators are looking for the gunman who killed the owner of a San Fernando Valley wireless store Monday night during an apparent robbery.

The shooting reportedly occurred shortly after 8:40 p.m. near Woodman Avenue and Osborne Street.

A bystander spotted 34-year-old Nestor Hernandez lying on the sidewalk, just feet from his business, with several gunshot wounds, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

"Another bystander flagged a passing fire truck to help a man who was apparently shot," explained Lt. Paul Vernon.

"It appeared he was closing the business when the confrontation that led to his death occurred," Vernon said. "The man died at the scene, and a woman later arrived, who claimed to be his wife, and confirmed him as the store owner since February."

A heavy-set Latino man in his 30s with a shaved head was seen running from the store, police said.

Anyone with information about the crime was urged to call Det. Efren Gutierrez, Mission Homicide Unit, at (818)838-9948.

The victim's brother-in-law said Hernandez was a responsible, hard-working and kind man.

"The family deserves justice because they not only killed this man, they tore the whole family apart and it's never, never going to be the same," said Arleta resident Valerie Morales, whose boyfriend was murdered a block away in 2004.

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