Ice Cream Vendor Killed in Robbery

One man was in custody and an accomplice was being sought after they allegedly shot and killed an ice cream vendor Sunday during a robbery in Compton, police said.

The two men, one armed with a shotgun, assaulted the vendor shortly after 5 p.m. in the 1300 block of West 133rd Street, said Compton Police Detective John Swanson. Police arrived at 5:20 p.m. to find the ice cream truck in the middle of the street and the driver inside with a shotgun wound to the upper torso, he said.

The vendor, who was not identified pending notification of relatives, was dead at the scene, Swanson said.

The robbers escaped with an undetermined amount of money.

One suspect--a 19-year-old--was arrested less than an hour later at his Compton home, Swanson said. A second suspect, 24, is believed to have fired the fatal shot, and was being sought, Swanson said.

Names of the two were not released.

Witnesses identified the suspects, who were well known in the neighborhood, Swanson said.