Gunman Kills Owner Inside Lennox Store

The owner of a neighborhood market in Lennox was shot and killed Saturday morning by a gunman who fled without taking any money from the business, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said.

The victim, Juan Diez, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:13 a.m. shooting at El Zorro Deli and Supermarket, 4417 W. Lennox Blvd.

Sgt. Joaquin Herran said Diez was standing next to the cash register when the gunman entered the store and fired one shot that struck Diez in the head.

“At this time, it appears nothing was taken from the business,” Herran said.

Word of the shooting quickly spread throughout the predominantly Latino neighborhood where Diez and his market were well-known. As homicide investigators arrived to interview employees of the store, a crowd of at least 200 area residents stood outside the market watching the grim proceedings.

“I heard there was a shooting so I came to find out what happened,” said Cesar Gonzalez, 17, who lives around the block from the market.

The store owner, Gonzalez said, was well-known and liked in the neighborhood, and was even referred to on the streets as “El Zorro” by area residents.

“He was a nice guy. Everybody around here knew him,” Gonzalez said.