Suspect Arrested in Attack on South African Missionary
A missionary from South Africa was shot in the back Monday when he did not respond to a robber’s demand for money outside Puente Hills Mall in the city of Industry, authorities said.
A 20-year-old man who allegedly shot at another person in Hacienda Heights after leaving the mall shooting scene was arrested by Whittier police Monday afternoon.
The 26-year-old victim, who was listed in stable condition after surgery, was walking through the mall parking lot about 11:30 a.m. with two women who also were identified as missionaries from South Africa. It was at that point that a man in a car drove up, said Lt. John Clark of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“The suspect demanded the [man’s] wallet,” Clark said. “The victim didn’t immediately respond. He turned away and the suspect shot him in the back.”
The shooting victim was taken by helicopter to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Clark said.
Sheriff’s detectives were working with Whittier police to determine if the suspect they have in custody is the same man who shot the missionary.
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