Store Manager Shot to Death by Robbers

Luis Valdez was a hard worker, so diligent and responsible that he worked his way up from stock clerk to chief supervisor of a store in the Tresierras grocery chain.

But Saturday night, the 32-year-old Panorama City man’s diligence led him to tragedy: Searching for a missing employee, Valdez discovered a robbery in progress, and the gunmen shot him dead, authorities and employees of the Newhall market said Sunday.

Assistant manager Teresa Cano, 42, was wounded during the robbery. She is in stable condition at an area hospital, said Deputy Jeff Cannon, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

About 11 p.m. Saturday, Valdez was locking up the store in the 24300 block of San Fernando Road when he noticed that Cano was not with the other employees who were leaving, employees said.

Valdez went to the store’s back office to look for the woman and was confronted by two robbers, whom employees suspect had been hiding in the store at least since its closing time of 10 p.m.

The robbers--described as masked men--made off with several thousand dollars, according to store management.

The store had experienced shoplifting and petty thefts in the past few years, “but nothing of this magnitude that I’m aware of,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Bill Weiss of the Santa Clarita station.

On what seemed outwardly to be just another busy Sunday afternoon, store employees said they felt fearful about the robbery and shocked by Valdez’s death.

“He was a really nice guy. Really friendly. Really calm,” said Nancy Ramirez, a Tresierras employee, as she adjusted the market’s Lotto machine.

Other employees, pushing shopping carts or standing behind checkout counters, described Valdez as serious, respectful and responsible.

“We’re all very sad about his death,” said Gustavo Velasco, the store’s grocery manager, who has known Valdez since the two men began working for the Tresierras chain about 12 years ago.

Tresierras employees are collecting money to help Valdez’s family, Velasco said. Valdez left behind a wife and two sons, ages 6 and 2, said his brother, Juan.

The Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone with more information about this crime to call (323) 890-5500.