Police release images of suspects in murder of Rite Aid workers

The Los Angeles Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying two suspects wanted in the murder of a Rite Aid employee in Glassell Park.

The employee, identified by police as Miguel Penaloza, 36, confronted two men as they tried to leave the store with two cases of beer without paying, according to an LAPD statement. After a brief struggle for beer, one of the men shot and killed Penaloza, police said. Penaloza died in the store.

The two men fled through the parking lot. On Saturday morning, LAPD released video footage of the two men recorded by the store’s security cameras.

Police described the man who shot Penaloza as being between 18 and 20 years old, around 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds. He was wearing a gray hoodie, black shorts, and black shoes with white trims.

The second man, who is also believed to be between 18 and 20, was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 145 pounds. He was wearing a black hoodie with a large square print on the back, beige or gray pants, and black shoes.

Police released video footage of two suspects in the murder of Rite Aid employee Miguel Penaloza.

(Los Angeles Police Department)

As police continue to search for suspects in the murder, the workers’ union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, said workers at the store had been voicing safety concerns for months.

“His death should not have happened,” the union said in a statement. “For several months, [union] members pointed out the security concerns in this store. … Rite Aid has refused, store after store, to provide adequate job security for its employees.

Former Closing Supervisor David Cruz told media that “beer races” were not uncommon there and that sometimes the understaffing made it difficult to deal with these issues.

“We have always had people coming [to] steal alcohol, ”Cruz told ABC-TV Channel 7.“ Other guests would see that they would run away with the merchandise and they would be like, ‘Well, if they did, why wouldn’t we? ? It was a huge security issue. “

In a list of demands, the union asked the channel to provide security guards in places where workers are at risk, ensure sufficient staff to mitigate thefts and establish a workplace safety committee.

In response to questions about the union’s reaction, Rite Aid spokesperson Chris Savarese repeated a previous statement:

“Rite Aid is shocked and saddened by the murder of one of his precious associates. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their investigation. “