@katchup_news A brutal attack at a Korean-owned beauty shop in East Los Angeles has left 32-year-old manager Marlene Sandoval critically injured and in need of a heart transplant. Security footage shows Marlene battling female robbers before being thrown to the ground, causing her to lose consciousness and suffer two heart attacks. Her family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support her surgery, urging anyone with information to contact the East L.A. Sheriff’s Department at 323-264-4151. #korean #beautyshop #robbery #robber #manager #injured #attack #fyp #la #california #gofundme #lapd #lasheriff #surgery #help #footage
A store manager at a Korean-owned beauty shop in East Los Angeles is in critical condition after being attacked by a group of female robbers.
The employee “fell to the ground headfirst, causing her to lose consciousness,” the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement about the incident. The victim, who had previously had heart problems, is reportedly in need of a heart transplant.
In CCTV footage released from inside the store, manager Marlene Sandoval, 32, struggled with the robbers and was dragged out into the parking lot outside the store and thrown to the pavement. Sandoval stumbled back to her feet but was knocked to the ground by the attackers’ continued assault.
The robbers, who broke into the store that day, stole items and tried to escape, but when Sandoval blocked them by locking the door, they assaulted her and threw her to the ground.
The store is owned by a Korean-American father and son family. The victim had reportedly worked hard for the past five years, rising to the position of assistant manager.
“My heart is broken, and I’m very worried,” the owner said in a phone call to the Korea Daily, adding, “It wasn’t like this before the pandemic, but these kinds of things (crimes) have been happening a lot lately.”
“I’ve been telling my staff to never confront them and not to make physical contact,” he said, adding, “I think (the victimized employee) was so righteous. I think our manager didn’t expect an assault because the attackers were women; she thought a warning would be enough for them to just leave,” he lamented.
Sandoval’s family has set up a page on GoFundMe to raise money for her heart transplant surgery.
Sandoval has reportedly suffered two heart attacks since the incident. She is currently in intensive care and on life support, relying on a machine to keep her heart beating.
“It’s crazy to see her like this,” said her father, Enrique Sandoval, adding, “I pray that God will help her through recovery little by little.”
“My daughter told me that she told the owner that he should hire a security guard before something worse happens,” he said, “They (the owners) are good people, but that doesn’t cover the fact that they didn’t have a security guard.”
The owner’s son, on the other hand, said, “Even with security guards, there’s only so much you can do when you’re faced with a theft like this.” However, he said he plans to hire a security guard after this incident to make his employees feel safer.
According to the LASD, the suspects involved in the incident have not yet been arrested.
Authorities said the suspects fled in a white sedan. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the East L.A. Sheriff’s Department at 323-264-4151.
Below is a link to help Marlene Sandoval go through a successful heart transplant surgery.
▶GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/heart-transplant-support
BY SUAH JANG, JUNHAN PARK [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
