Fereidoun Kohanim, 72

Died Dec. 22, 2009 at 12:15 a.m.

Fereidoun Kohanim, a 72-year-old white man, died Tuesday, Dec. 22, after he was shot in the 1800 block of Venice Boulevard in Pico-Union, authorities said.

Kohanim, a business owner, was shot in the head during a robbery at his 98-Cent store, Los Angeles police said.

The robbery happened on the afternoon ofMonday, Dec. 21, and Kohanim was pronounced dead about 5 p.m. the next day, authorities said.

Police said three men entered the store. The first walked up to the front counter and confronted Kohanim. A second man walked behind the counter, and a third stayed at the front door as a lookout.

According to police, the man at the front counter took out a chrome-plated revolver from his waistband and pointed it at Kohanim. As Kohanim attempted to reach for the man’s gun, the man pulled away and the second man approached the store owner from behind.

But he backed away quickly when Kohanim lunged in his direction. Moments later, the first man fired one shot, striking the store owner in the head.

The men were described as two Latinos, one wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and the other wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, police said, and a third man of unknown ethnicity wearing a gray long-sleeve pullover shirt and a black beanie knit cap.

All three also appeared to be wearing black knit gloves. Police released a video from a security camera.

Kohanim's family released a statement late Tuesday night: "Fereidoun Kohanim was a loving husband and father of two. He was known in the community as a warm, passionate and hard-working man who was always willing to lend a helping hand. We are devastated by this sudden loss and we will always remember him as the greatest father anyone could ask for."

Friends and family have set up an emergency fund to help support the family through this tragedy. The website is www.FredsFamilyFund.org.

— Andrew Blankstein