Hae Roh, 51

Hae Sook Roh, 51, a Korean woman, was fatally shot inside her store in the 2300 block of Rosecrans Avenue in Gardena on Monday evening.

A day after the shooting, the city of Gardena offered a $10,000 reward for the conviction of two robbers who shot Roh. Former customers drove to the store to confirm the news of her death.

Roh operated her store alone, and it was always open, former customers said. "I loved her," said Felita Hammond, 40, a former customer who drove to the store when she heard about the shooting. "I liked the way she did business." 

According to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, the suspects were described as black men in their 20s. The gunman was wearing a bandana, black jacket, white T-shirt and shorts. The second man was wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans. Both suspects were last seen running westbound on Rosecrans.  A surveillance video shows the gunman storming into the store, pointing a gun at Roh, and shooting her once. As he tried to open the cash register he shot Roh twice more.

A neighboring shop owner said she heard three gunshots. She walked to Roh's store and found her lying behind the counter. The woman said she ran back to her store and dialed 911.

Latex gloves from paramedics were left behind just ouside the store. Near the front entrance were boxes scattered on the floor, and a few feet away dry bloodstains.

A friend of the family said Roh lived in Harbor City. She emigrated from Korea with her husband and two children. Roh had owned her store, Shirt 6 for $10, for five years and had been robbed before, the friend said.

Former customers said Roh always greeted them with a smile. "She was a wonderful person for our community," said Janet Wilson, 51, a former customer who dropped off a vase of flowers in front of the store.  Hammond said she wasn't surprised to hear about the robbery. "But to kill her," she said, "I can't stomach that." 

See L.A. Times story