Police Search for Suspect After Gas Station Attack Leaves East LA Worker Seriously Injured

Gas Station Clerk in Critical Condition After Attempted Theft

A gas station clerk is in critical condition following an attempted theft at a gas station in East Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, according to local authorities.

Surveillance footage from the incident shows the clerk confronting a man attempting to leave the store with stolen merchandise. The suspect forcefully pushed the clerk, causing him to fall and hit his head on the concrete floor.

The store owner, who witnessed the incident from her vehicle, immediately rushed to assist. Emergency responders transported the clerk to a nearby hospital, where he underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage. He remains in a medically induced coma.

In a statement to NBC4, the owner described the clerk as a dedicated employee of 20 years. “My prayers are with him. I’m hoping he is going to recover without any damage. I really hope all the best for him and his family,” she said. She added that the clerk has a son attending Harvard, emphasizing the impact on his family.

The surveillance footage also captured the suspect taking a drink and another item from the shelves before attempting to exit without payment. The owner reported that she does not recognize the suspect and believes he has not been a customer at the store before.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspect to contact the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.