Eshagh Natanzadeh, 61

Eshagh Natanzadeh, a 61-year-old white man, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, after he was stabbed in a jewelry shop in the 700 block of South Broadway downtown, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m., a neighbor reported broken glass at a jewelry shop in the area along with a mistaken report that a person had been shot, said Los Angeles Police Officer Drake Madison.  

“The investigation is now underway,” he said. “It’s a homicide, but what led up to all of that, I have no idea. That’s what the investigation is going to be trying to figure out.” Madison said the stabbing was not being classified as a robbery at this time.

At least 10 LAPD officers responded to the call, along with paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Shopkeepers from several nearby businesses declined to comment about the death when reached by phone that morning. 

Sharyar Soleymani, a jewelry store owner who has worked in downtown L.A.’s Jewelry District for 35 years, told the Forward that he had known Natanzadeh and his brother, Habib, for more than 15 years. 

Habib was with his brother that morning while they prepared to open the store, Soleymani said. He left to go to the bank then came back and found Natanzadeh on the floor. 

“Right now no one knows who did this but it was likely a customer or someone who knew him,” Soleymani told the Forward, “because he would not have unlocked the door and let someone in that he did not know. He was a wonderful guy, and everyone who worked with him is very upset right now.”

An online fundraising page has been set up to benefit Natanzadeh's family. 

As of Wednesday, no arrests have been made and no description of a suspect is available. Police are asking anyone with information to call (877) 527-3247. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Times staff writer Francine Orr contributed to this report.