Police Seek Killers of Store Worker

Police continued the search Saturday for at least two men who robbed a neighborhood market Friday evening and fatally shot a store worker.

Eugenio Enrique Gonzales, 48, of Downey died at UCI Medical Center in Orange shortly after he was shot at 6:55 p.m. Friday at Ibero America Market at 327 S. Lemon St., said Sgt. Chet Barry.

Witnesses who were inside the market at the time of the shooting said at least two men entered the store and ordered everyone inside to lay down at gunpoint. Moments later, the witnesses heard gunshots and saw the robbers run out the store, Barry said.

Paramedics attempted to save Gonzales, who was shot several times in the upper body, police said. He was taken to the hospital where he died a short time later.

A spokesman for the Orange County coroner’s office said the victim worked at the market, although it was not clear if he was the owner or an employee.

The motive for the shooting was apparently robbery, but the amount taken was not not determined, Barry said.