A couple who've long worked at a Los Angeles 7-Eleven were tragically stabbed in a confrontation with a shoplifter, police say.
A Los Angeles 7-Eleven manager was stabbed to death and his wife critically injured while confronting a shoplifter, police say.
LAPD say a homeless man stabbed the two long-time employees of the convenience store in the Valley Village neighborhood around 9 a.m. on Friday.
The couple worked at the location for years.
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The incident happened Friday after the couple believed the man tried to steal a beer and a hot dog, CBS Los Angeles reports.
"Both victims followed the suspect outside and attempted to retrieve the stolen items from him. The suspect produced a knife and stabbed both victims and fled," LAPD said in a statement.
Video footage of the incident taken from a nearby laundromat shows the wife chasing after the alleged thief first before she was stabbed. When the husband intervened, he too was stabbed, police say.
Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and transported both victims to a local hospital. The male victim later died from his injuries and the female victim is in critical condition.
The responding officers located and arrested the suspect a few blocks away from the location. Police say the suspect is a local homeless man.
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While police did not identify the vicitms, friends identified them to CBSLA as Rashid Ahmed and Paulina Lopez.
Rashid worked at the location for almost 30 years, according to longtime patrons who said the couple were always very warm.
"They call you by your first name. It’s just a very friendly establishment," one customer said.
In a statement, 7-Eleven officials said: “Our hearts are with the victims and their families. We are gathering information and working with law enforcement.”
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