Robbery Turns to Murder, Police Asking for Help

Los Angeles: The store clerk, shot during a robbery yesterday, has died. Detectives held a news conference to release video footage of the robbery in the hopes of someone recognizing the two, young Hispanic suspects.

"This was nothing short of a cold-blooded murder," said Detective Kelle Baitx of the Newton Street Homicide Unit. "We need the public’s help in identifying these two guys quickly before they kill someone else."

Simon Khalil, 35, died last night around nine o’clock at California Hospital. He had been shot at nearly point-blank range by one of two armed robbers.

Khalil was working at his store, the Maple Liquor and Market, in the 3000 block of South Maple Avenue, when two young men walked in around 1 PM. The suspects waited for customers to leave, then handed a note to Khalil, who read it and threw it back at the robbers.

One suspect pulled a handgun from his waistband and the other took a sawed-off shotgun from a backpack. The suspect with the handgun shot Khalil once in the chest. This suspect appeared to be in his twenties, while his accomplice appeared younger, in his teens.

Simon Khalil is survived by his brother and the co-owner of the store, Sam Khalil. Simon Khalil lived in Burbank.

Anyone with information is asked to call Newton Homicide Detective Dennis Fanning at 323-846-6556. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

A photograph of Khalil and video footage from the robbery are available from Media Relations Section.