Full Notification

LAPD detectives are asking the public's helping in solving an early morning robbery and shooting, which occurred on Pico Boulevard between Main and Los Angeles streets in downtown Los Angeles, today, January 26, 2011.

"Our victim was sipping on his cup of coffee, like he does every day, waiting for his boss to pick him up," said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division. "The suspect came out of nowhere and shot him point blank in the face."

The 25-year-old victim fell to the ground, bleeding, as the 18-year-old assailant rifled through his pockets before running south, down an adjoining alley.

The victim was able to stagger back to the coffee stand to summon police.

"Our officers found the victim's tooth lying near a pool of blood," Lt. Vernon explained. "The bullet went through his jaw and out."

Detectives found the bullet near a wall.

Following a crime broadcast on a police radio, local Business Improvement District security officers reported they had noticed a young, tall Hispanic man in the area. When they looked the man's way, the man removed a green shirt from around his neck then wiped his face and ran.

That man was wearing a baseball cap, white shirt with gray writing, similar to an Ed Hardy style shirt. Detectives would like to speak to identify that man.

"Robberies in this part of downtown are quite rare, especially an armed robbery with shots fired," Lt. Vernon added. "That makes this suspect very dangerous. Someone knows who he is and we want to know who he is too."

Last year robberies downtown dropped 12% from 2009. Guns are reported in crimes downtown in about 2% of the cases.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Amy Sundquist, Central Robbery Unit, at (213) 972-1244. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.