Authorities responded to a shots fired call at the Indoor Swap Meet at 14500 La Paz Drive at 3:40 p.m. Monday. Investigators say at least three men ran into a jewelry store, smashed a glass case, grabbed jewelry and took off.
As they were leaving, the owner of another business inside, 58-year-old Inho Lee, followed the men to the parking lot. One of the suspects turned around and shot him several times.
Lee was taken to the Victor Valley Community Hospital, where he was declared dead.
"I don't know...you cannot bring him back," said the victim's wife, Kyong Lee. She was too distraught to speak at length, but she did share a picture of her husband in uniform during his days as a police officer in Korea.
People who were inside the store during Monday's robbery believe it was those police instincts that kicked in as Lee gave chase.
The suspects were last seen fleeing westbound on La Paz Drive in a white Jeep Cherokee.
Anyone with information is urged to call the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department at (909) 387-3589 or (800) 78-CRIME.
