Local News in Brief : ‘Foolish’ Hero Fatally Shot

A “brave but . . . foolish” Downey restaurant employee was shot to death when, armed only with a 2-by-4, he confronted three gunmen and foiled a holdup, police said Friday.

Jose Noe Burrola Encinas, 37, was shot repeatedly when he chased one of the robbers with the wooden club, Downey Police Sgt. Rick Piercy said.

“He was brave, but he was also foolish,” Piercy said. “We don’t encourage people to face armed robbers.”

Piercy said three gunmen burst into Felipe’s Restaurant in the 7200 block of Firestone Boulevard at 10:19 p.m. Thursday and yelled, “This is a robbery,” to the 15 people there. While one employee ducked into the kitchen and dialed the police emergency number, another picked up the wood and began swinging it.

One gunman then fired several shots into the employee, Piercy said.

Officers in a patrol car saw two men driving off and, after a brief chase, arrested Jesus Enrique Ibanez, 25, of Lynwood, and Emiliano Tony Lopez, 25, a transient. A third man was being sought.