Guard at Lakewood check-cashing shop killed in attempted robbery
Sunday February 09, 2003LAKEWOOD, Calif. (AP) A robbery attempt and shootout at a check-cashing business left a security guard dead and the alleged armed robber wounded, authorities said.
The shooting took place about 2:40 p.m. Friday outside the Check Into Cash business, said Deputy Rick Varela of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The wounded man was arrested about a mile from the shooting when witnesses led authorities to him.
Friends said the guard, who police identified Saturday as 49-year-old Tupito Taualii from Long Beach, was a father of five who had been planning a family gathering Friday.
``The guard sustained multiple gunshot wounds, but was able to return fire,'' Varela said. ``He struck the suspect at least once.''
The alleged robber was identified as Donald Chambers, 34, of Los Angeles. He remained hospitalized Saturday with a gunshot wound.
Chambers was booked on an unrelated felony warrant and will be booked for investigation of murder in the guard's death, sheriff's Sgt. Rick Myers said Saturday.
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