Authorities say the victim, identified as 34-year-old Nestor Porfilio Hernandez, was closing down the shop in the 8900 block of Woodman Avenue around 8:40 p.m. when he was shot multiple times.
Witnesses told police that they saw a heavy-set man confronting Hernandez on the sidewalk, and the confrontation escalated to the shooting. Several people called 911 to report the shooting, and a bystander flagged down a fire truck that was passing by, but it was too late. Hernandez was declared dead at the scene.
Police initially thought this was a robbery gone wrong, but after evaluating the evidence, investigators say this may have been personal. Police say Hernandez had just opened the store in February. His wife had to identify her husband's body at the scene.
LAPD Det. Juan Santa said the suspect description they have is very vague.
"We're hoping that with a little bit of time we can develop some more (leads)," Santa said.
The suspect was last seen running southbound on Woodman Avenue. Anyone with information is urged to call the LAPD Mission Homicide Unit at (818) 838-9948.
