A man was shot and killed Sunday afternoon inside a business in California after an incident that began with him allegedly groping a female customer and escalated into a violent disturbance.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide investigators are continuing to investigate the shooting, which occurred at approximately 3:21 p.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2025.
Deputies from the Compton Sheriff’s Station initially responded to a disturbance call, but the report was updated to a gunshot victim prior to their arrival. Upon reaching the location, deputies found a male adult inside suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. Compton Fire Department personnel pronounced the man dead at the scene.
Incident Rapidly Escalated
Investigators pieced together the sequence of events, learning that the man entered the store, where he allegedly groped a female customer. After employees requested that he leave, the man became verbally assaultive toward both staff and other customers.
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The situation quickly worsened as the man began throwing and damaging merchandise. Employees and customers reported seeing an object in the man’s hand that they believed was a knife. He then made verbal threats that he was going to kill and harm everyone in the store, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
A second customer in the store, fearing for the safety of herself, employees, and other customers, retrieved a personal firearm. The customer fired a warning shot at the male. When the male turned toward the customer, who believed she was about to be attacked, she fired a second shot, which struck the man.
The identity of the deceased has not been released, and there is currently no information available regarding the status of the customer who fired the shots.
Call for Witnesses
Investigators believe that video evidence shows there were additional customers inside the store who may have witnessed the incident and are requesting that they contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. Authorities are also asking anyone who may have been in the parking lot and observed the male prior to the incident to come forward.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or through the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
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