Clerk Shot At South LA Big Lots, Police Searching For Suspect
SOUTH LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Police are investigating a shooting that occurred at a South Los Angeles Big Lots Tuesday, injuring a store employee.
LAPD officers were called to the scene at Slauson Avenue and Manhattan Place shortly after 2 p.m.
Investigators say a man with gun attempting to rob the store approached the victim, described as a 42-year-old female, from behind just as she was opening her register.
LAPD Det. Jerry Gibson says the cashier had her hand on the drawer and there was a struggle as the suspect attempted to get the money. Shots were fired and the suspect fled the scene.
"The cash register fell to the ground. The suspect took money out of the actual drawer itself, which was underneath the till, money from the ground, and fled the location," Gibson said, adding that the employee may not have even known the suspect was armed when he approached.
The victim was transported to a local hospital, suffering between two and four gunshot wounds, police said.
She was released from surgery Tuesday evening in stable condition.
A friend of the victim, Shaloe Foster, told CBS2/KCAL9 the woman was "shaking [and] screaming" in the wake of the shooting.
"She couldn't feel her legs. [There was] blood everywhere, money on the floor ... It's bad," Foster said.
A spokesperson for Big Lots told CBS2/KCAL9 its associates were "diligently working with [police] in their investigation."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this incident — and especially with our Big Lots team member and her family," the spokesperson said.
Police Tuesday night were still searching for the suspect, described as an African-American male between 40-50 years old, of medium height and build.
