Andy Ung, 29

Andy Ung, a 29-year-old Chinese man, was fatally stabbed Tuesday, Jan. 13, in the 300 block of West Florence Avenue in Florence, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 9:15 p.m., a black man wearing a beanie and a dark hooded sweatshirt walked into Ung’s family’s doughnut and fried chicken shop and asked for a doughnut, said Lt. Jeff Nolte with the Los Angeles Police Department.

As Ung walked to grab the doughnut, the man, later identified as Travell Moussett, 38, allegedly jumped over the counter and stole cash out of the register, Los Angeles County prosecutors said.

Mossett ran away and Ung chased after him, which led to a stabbing in the parking lot. Ung was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11 p.m.

On Feb. 25, Mossett was charged with one count of murder during the commission of a robbery. He is set to be arraigned March 19, said a spokesman for the district attorney's office.

Ung’s shop was well known in the community; people often stopped by on their way to work or home.  Anthony Lewis, 33, who said the shop is part of his morning routine, wondered how much money Mossett could have actually stolen. “It was a worthless killing,” he said.

Ung’s family was known to be generous and often gave away coffee and doughnuts to people without enough money.

“It’s a mom and pop shop, you know what I mean?” he said.

Kevin Munoz, 19, lives around the corner from the shop. Munoz and Ung shared a biking hobby and would often talk about bike mechanics and parts. His father, Manuel Munoz, went to the shop the night of the killing. He said he’s known the family for decades and watched Ung grow up.

“I feel like it’s family,” the elder Munoz said through tears. 

Kim Batiste, 35, walked up to the shop the day after the killing to see for herself. Batiste, lives two blocks away and said she often conversed with Ung and his family.

“It was never ‘Hi’ and ‘Bye.' We always talked,” she said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD’s Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (213) 485-4341.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Photo: Chris Ung, along with his sister, Jenny Ung, hold a photo of their brother, Andy, at a vigil outside the doughnut shop Jan. 15. About 75 people showed up to pay their respects. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times