Larry Robinson, 64, worked at Pete's Music in the 28000 block of Old Town Front Street. He was alone in the store during the robbery and was discovered by a customer bound and unconscious around 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Robinson was rushed to a hospital where he died from his injuries Saturday morning.
Investigators have little information to go on at this point, except that the suspect or suspects took cash from the register, a dark red U.S.-made Gibson Les Paul Studio guitar that was in a Gibson hard shell case, and numerous packages of guitar strings in neon-colored packaging.
Meanwhile, the store owners are devastated. They say they have never seen anything like this in 35 years they have been in business.
"I wish it was only surreal, it's just sad, sorrowful, anger-filled, and we're all grief-stricken," said Pete Surowski, owner of Pete's Music.
Robinson worked at the store for nearly a decade. Friends say Robinson was a locally-known musician who played with many music greats.
"He recorded with Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, I think Waylon Jennings even at one time," said friend John Trifunov.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Temecula Sheriff's Department at (951) 696-3000.
