Gunmen Kill Baker After Wife Tries to Stop Theft of Bag Holding Medicine

Two robbers shot and killed the owner of a bakery shop on Christmas Eve after his wife tried to stop them from stealing a purse containing her asthma medicine, authorities said Sunday.

The two gunmen walked into the Victoria Bakery at 1312 S. Vermont Ave. about 10 p.m. Saturday and ordered Salvador Atilio Flores, his wife and an employee into a back room at the shop, Police Lt. Rob Watters said.

Once in the back room, the gunmen ordered the trio to lie face down on the floor and robbed them, Watters said. Flores’ wife, who suffers from asthma, objected when one of the gunman tried to take her purse, which contained medicine for her ailment, Watters said.

The woman struggled for the purse with the gunman, then ran out of the back room. The woman heard several shots as she reached the front of the store and ran back into the room for her husband, Watters said.

Lying on Floor

Flores, 36, was lying on the floor with a gunshot wound. Paramedics took him to California Medical Center, where he died.

The gunmen ran out the back of the store and escaped.

Flores and his wife, whose name was withheld, owned the neighborhood bakery. “They had their Christmas decorations up and Christmas presents behind the counter to take to their kids,” Watters said.