1 Killed, 1 Hurt in Beverly Hills Office Shooting

An elderly man was fatally wounded and his 38-year-old son was in critical condition after a shooting in the offices of a Beverly Hills loan company, police said.

Julius Zimmelman, 81, owner of the business, died shortly after arrival at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of a gunshot wound in the abdomen, hospital officials said. Zimmelman’s son, Harry, was in critical condition with a gunshot wound in the head.

There were only sketchy details of the shootings in the offices of the Beverly Loan Co. on the third floor of the Wells Fargo Bank building, 9350 Wilshire Blvd.

Beverly Hills police cordoned off the building and conducted a floor-by-floor search for the assailant, who apparently burst into the office and opened fire with a handgun at about 4:30 p.m.

Employees of other businesses on the third floor said police sought a woman, but investigators would not confirm the reports.

Workers in the building were told to stay in their offices and lock their doors after the shooting. They were allowed to leave after officers failed to locate the assailant.

Police would not comment on a possible motive.

A woman who works in the building described the loan company as a “very high-class pawn shop.”