Police responded to the shooting at Paisano's Meat in the 1500 block of W. Rosecrans Avenue at about 6:30 a.m. and found two shooting victims.
One shooting victim was determined to be an alleged armed robbery suspect, who was shot by the store owner as he attempted to rob the store. The suspect fled and then collapsed on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
"The suspect entered into the business and the owner and the suspect, there was an exchange of gunfire between the two, and the suspect was shot. The owner was not injured," said Gardena Police Lt. Steve Prendergast.
Authorities say a bystander was also shot but was expected to survive. It was not clear who shot him.
"It appears that it was self-defense, that he was confronted by an armed gunman that came into his business at 6:30 this morning and tried to rob him, and he felt threatened to the point where he had to defend himself," said Prendergast.
The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information related to the incident should contact the Gardena Police Department at (310) 217-9639.
