News In Brief : Thief Killed in Gun Store

A masked man armed with a rifle was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon after he fired a shot in a Redondo Beach gun shop during an apparent robbery attempt, Redondo Beach police said.

The 40-year-old man, whom police would not identify until relatives are notified, walked into the Lawrence & Co. gun shop on Artesia Boulevard, fired once into the ceiling and said something, Lt. Jeff Cameron said. Cameron did not know what was said.

The store owner’s son, Mark Lawrence, 30, who was working behind the counter, shot the man in the forehead with a handgun, Cameron said. The man was pronounced dead at South Bay Hospital. The two employees and two customers in the shop were not hurt.

Cameron said police are investigating but consider the 1:45 p.m. incident a robbery attempt.

“It really wouldn’t be too wise to walk into a gun store wearing a ski mask and gloves,” Cameron said, noting that there is a “good chance somebody in there has access to a gun and knows how to use one.”