The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Sunday on the 5100 block of North Figueroa Street. According to investigators, two men entered the store and pretended to be customers. The clerk, identified as 31-year-old Gonzalo Garcia, walked to the register to assist them.
One suspect suddenly jumped over the counter and produced a handgun, police said. They demanded money from the cash register, and when Garcia tried to flee, the armed suspect shot him.
Police described the suspects in the Highland Park robbery as two black men between the ages of 25 to 30 years old. The first suspect, who was armed, was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jean short pants, black and white shoes and red gloves. He is about 5 feet 10 inches and 160 pounds. The second suspect was last seen wearing a black hooded sweater, blue jean long pants and blue and white shoes. He is about 5 feet 8 inches and 150 pounds.
Garcia leaves behind a 5-year-old daughter. His cousin, Virginia McCowan, says Garcia was working two jobs to help support his family in Mexico and daughter here in Los Angeles.
Anyone with information about the robberies was asked to call Los Angeles Police at (877) LAPD-24-7.
