Killer Sought in Slaying at Doughnut Shop

Fountain Valley police Thursday released a sketch of the suspect in Tuesday’s murder and robbery of doughnut shop manager Virgie Ella LaFountain.

Detectives said that a witness, who had just left the Yum Yum Donut Shop at 17217 Brookhurst St. and was sitting in his car during the crime, provided a description.

According to police, the murder suspect is in his early 40s, about 5-foot-10, weighing about 170 pounds, with a medium build. He has thin, light, sand-colored hair and is almost bald on top, police said. He was wearing light-colored, possibly gray, plastic frame glasses and is in generally good physical condition, according to the description.

Police are asking the public’s help in finding the assailant, who was seen speeding away from the crime scene in a white Volkswagen van bearing a red temporary operating permit with a large “2” in the lower left rear window. The car’s blue California license plates contain the numbers 784, possibly preceded by 1AU, or 2AU, with the fourth digit unknown, police said.

LaFountain was killed by a single gunshot wound to the chest at about 2:30 p.m., according to police. The suspect took $59 in cash from the register, said Detective Dann Bean.

Yum Yum Donuts Shops Inc. is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect, said Maureen Costello, vice president of company operations. She said LaFountain’s murder is the first in the doughnut company’s 14-year history.

“We’re all very upset and saddened,” Costello said. “It was pointless.”