City Councilwoman’s Son Wounded During Robbery

The son of a Rolling Hills city councilwoman was wounded when he and a friend were robbed in the parking lot of a Torrance restaurant, police said.

Harold Murdock, 27, of Rolling Hills was shot in the leg and foot outside TGI Friday’s on Hawthorne Boulevard, said Torrance Police Sgt. Ron Traber. Murdock’s companion, Vannessa Dodson, 22, of Torrance was unhurt in the shooting Sunday night, Traber said. Murdock’s mother, Jody, serves on the Rolling Hills City Council.

The incident began when two men, one armed with a .45-caliber handgun, confronted the couple and took Dodson’s purse and Murdock’s wallet, Traber said. “Murdock turned and started to walk away, and he was shot in the upper thigh and toe,” Traber said.

Police said the two suspects may also have robbed two women outside a post office at 181st Street and Crenshaw Boulevard about 40 minutes before the shooting, Traber said. No one was hurt in that incident.