The man, a dishwasher at the restaurant identified only as "Carlos," was found outside Guido's Malibu on the 3800 block of Cross Creek Road at about 8:30 p.m. The man staggered to the front of the restaurant, where he collapsed.
Paramedics pronounced the man dead when they arrived on scene. Earlier in the day, authorities said it looked like it was a beating death as there was a lot of blood at the scene. However, deputies now say the man may have died of natural causes, but they cannot confirm that without a coroner's report.
According to the sheriff's department, the man had no external trauma to his body.
The case is still being investigated as a homicide until an official cause of death has been determined.
Shops in the area were closed at the time, but Guido's was still open and there were a few patrons still inside.
Investigators want to interview a man who was seen walking through the parking lot about a half hour before the worker's death. The man was described as a white or Hispanic male in his 30s, 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 180 pounds, clean shaven, with light-colored short hair. He was last seen wearing a long-sleeved blue sweatshirt and dark blue or black denim jeans.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
