Police identify guard killed at Mid-Wilshire marijuana clinic

Noe Campos Gonzalez, 25, was shot in an apparent robbery attempt. Several 'people of interest' have been arrested.

Authorities today identified the security guard who was shot in an apparent robbery attempt at a Mid-Wilshire area medical marijuana clinic.

Noe Campos Gonzalez, 25, of Los Angeles died of gunshot wounds, said Officer April Harding of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Gonzalez was working as a security guard at the La Brea Collective in the 800 block of South La Brea Avenue when "several armed" men walked into the business shortly after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, police said. A struggle started, and one of the men pulled out a gun and shot the security guard. The men then fled on foot, Harding said.

Gonzalez was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Officer Jason Lee said the men were all about 25 to 30 years old. Police combed the area until about 9 p.m. and made several arrests. Lee would not say how many people had been detained.

"We're not calling them suspects, just people of interest," Det. Frank Carrillo of the LAPD's Wilshire Homicide unit told reporters at the scene.

Jess McKay, 25, said he was driving south on La Brea, heading to Torrance, when he "heard a pop, a really loud noise, and then another one."

McKay said he saw three men at the door of the clinic and heard six shots. He drove away when the men looked in his direction, but he returned about 8 p.m. to tell police what he had witnessed.

At least two bullet holes could be seen in the window of a discount furniture store next door, and the window at the La Brea Collective was cracked.

corina.knoll@latimes.com

tami.abdollah@latimes.com


 
 
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