California IN BRIEF : BARSTOW : Woman Slain in Robbery Attempt

Authorities sought four youths described by police as “big-city gang types” after two employees at a check-cashing business in Barstow were shot, one fatally, in a robbery attempt. The gunmen approached two women and two children shortly after the women had closed the Any Kind Check Cashing office downtown, police said. The gunmen demanded money, then shot both women, said Sgt. Wayne Ecker. The children were not hurt, and it was not clear whether the four assailants escaped with any cash. “We have homicides,” Ecker said. “But I can’t think of anything that was this cold-blooded.” Loretta Abeyta-Chabira, 22, was declared dead at Barstow Community Hospital after the shooting. The other employee, Phyllis Padilla, was listed in critical but stable condition at the same hospital.