South Bay Jewelry Store Owner Fatally Shot Suspected Robber

Updated at 4 p.m. March 8, 2016

TORRANCE, CA - The owner of a Torrance jewelry store fatally shot a would-be robber Tuesday.

The shooting was reported about noon at Leilani's Jewelers at 18099 Prairie Ave., said Torrance police Sgt. Paul Kranke.

The store owner told police that a suspect was shot during an attempted robbery at the business, Kranke said. The man was armed, but police don't believe he fired any shots during the attempted robbery, the sergeant said.

The store owner, whose name was not released, was the only worker in the shop at the time of the shooting.

Kranke said the owner is being interviewed by detectives, who are trying to determine what led to the shooting.

"He's cooperating," Kranke said of the owner.

The suspect's body was still at the scene mid-afternoon, awaiting the coroner's office.

Police also said there is a car parked outside the store that may have been used by the would-be robber.

Police were unsure if there were any accomplices and urged people with information about the robbery to call detectives at (310) 618-5570.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock