Restaurant Employee Wounded in Shoot-Out
An employee of a fast-food restaurant was wounded in a shoot-out with a robber inside a South-Central eatery, police said Thursday. The suspect entered El Cihualteco Taqueria at 925 E. Vernon Ave. about 7 p.m. Wednesday and ordered food. He then drew a handgun and demanded money.
Pedro Pena, 18, backed away in an attempt to run, but was shot once in the stomach. The assailant ran outside and tried to get inside the store through the back door. When he couldn’t, he ran back inside and climbed over the store’s counter to the register, taking an undisclosed amount of cash.
Meanwhile, Pena armed himself with a gun. When the suspect leveled his weapon at Pena’s co-worker, Pena fired, Lt. Jim Voge said. The gunman fled and Pena was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was in stable condition.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
