72-Year-Old Store Owner Shot and Killed in Downtown LA

In an Attempted Robbery, man is shot in the back of the head in front of his wife.

Three downtown desperados are on the run following a brazen attempted robbery, which left a 72-year-old store owner dead.

Late Tuesday afternoon police confirmed that Iranian immigrant and owner of a 98-Cent Store, Freidoun Kohainim, died from his wounds. Detectives say he was shot in the back of the head in the 1300 block of West Venice near Hoover.

LAPD Sgt. Michael Mabie says surveillance video of the suspects is "very good." It clearly showed two of the three robbers confront Kohainim, then one of the suspects shot the owner before fleeing the scene.

"It was a brazen attempt that left a 72-year-old man dead," said Sgt. Mabie, "we are currently looking for three Hispanic males last seen running away from the store."

The incident happened just after 4pm Monday, in broad daylight.

"One of the three stood watch at the front of the store, the other two entered. One of them had a handgun and shot the store owner," said Sgt. Mabie.

Kohainim's two adult sons were also in the store, working in the back of the building. They found their father lying on the ground after hearing the single gunshot.

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