Fight inside 7-Eleven store in Lawndale leads to fatal shooting; suspect at large

LAWNDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- A fight inside a 7-Eleven store in Lawndale on Sunday night led to a shooting that left one man dead and prompted a search for the shooter, who remained at large, authorities said.

Deputies were called shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday to 15809 Prairie Ave., near Manhattan Beach Boulevard, where they found the victim, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not immediately identified.

"Investigators learned the victim was inside of a convenience store purchasing liquid beverages when the suspect entered the convenience store," the Sheriff's Department said in a statement. "The victim and the suspect exchanged words with each other and a fight ensued between them."

The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle westbound through a nearby alley, authorities said. The victim ran to a back isle of the convenience store, where he collapsed and was found by deputies.

The circumstances that led to the fight were unclear, including whether the victim and suspect knew each other.

Video from the scene showed detectives taking photographs inside and outside the store.

A description of the suspect was not immediately available.

"It's very hard to hear about this," Lawndale resident Jeremy Zwirner said in an interview outside the 7-Eleven. "I come here all the time. It's shakes you up a little bit. But hopefully everyone will just get along and everything will be fine."

Anyone with information about this shooting was asked to contact the Sheriff Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call (800) 222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

City News Service contributed to this report.