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Guard at Lakewood check-cashing shop killed in attempted robbery
Sunday February 09, 2003
LAKEWOOD, 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.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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