Police Seek Leads in Killing of Man in Market Parking Lot

Redondo Beach police Monday called for the public’s help in catching a gunman who fatally shot a 63-year-old man in the parking lot of a grocery store.

Edward Emery of Carson was shot twice in the upper body about 5:40 p.m. Saturday as he and his wife wheeled a grocery cart through the parking lot of Smith’s Food King on Inglewood Avenue, Police Lt. Mike Minard said.

The gunman approached Emery and shot him with a large-caliber revolver in what may have been a botched robbery attempt, Minard said. It was unknown if Emery struggled with the man before the shooting.

“[Emery] had a shopping cart in front of him, but I don’t know if he pushed the shopping cart into the guy,” he said. “All we know is the suspect just began shooting.”

A 32-year-old woman, her three young children and their grandmother were also fired on but were not injured.

The assailant and a second man were seen fleeing south on Inglewood Avenue in a Ford Aerostar with a dark blue top, medium blue midsection and black lower section.

The gunman was described as a black male in his 30s, about 190 pounds and 5 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall. He was wearing a dark hooded jacket.

“I think there were some people in that parking lot who saw something and we’re really beseeching them to come forward,” Minard said.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (310) 379-2477.