Employee, 25, fatally shot during attempted robbery at Jack in the Box in El Monte

EL MONTE, Calif. (KABC) -- A 25-year-old employee was fatally shot Friday evening during an attempted robbery at a Jack in the Box in El Monte, authorities said.

The incident occurred at about 7:50 p.m. in the 9200 block of Flair Drive, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

A male wearing a Halloween mask entered the fast-food restaurant and "immediately jumped over the front service counter," then turned toward the victim and fired at least one shot, striking him in the upper torso, the news release said.

The gunman jumped back over the counter and fled on foot, investigators said. He was last seen running north on Flair Drive.

The wounded employee was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. He was not immediately identified.

Friends of the victim said he had only worked at the restaurant for a few months. They said he loved cars and was a happy, kind person.

No money or property was taken in the incident, according to the news release.

The fast-food restaurant has several surveillance cameras that investigators are looking over to find the suspect and why he killed the employee.

People in the area said businesses in the shopping center have been robbed before and it could be because of its close proximity to the 10 Freeway.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.