Shoplifting Suspects Sought in Man’s Fatal Heart Attack

Two men involved in a shoplifting incident Saturday that may have contributed to a fatal heart attack suffered by a Bellflower merchant are being sought as possible killers, the Sheriff’s Department said.

“Right now you could say they are wanted on suspicion of homicide,” said Deputy Bill Wehner, a department spokesman.

The men, described as being in their early 20s, walked into the Multi Video shop in the 10300 block of Rosecrans Avenue in Bellflower about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Wehner said. A few minutes later, they walked out with a unit used to recharge flashlights and other small batteries, the deputy added.

The shop owner, David Adams, 45, of Bellflower, ran after the men, who dropped the battery charger a short distance from the store and then escaped. Adams picked up the unit and returned to his shop where he suffered an apparent heart attack and collapsed, the deputy said. Adams was rushed by paramedics to Coast Plaza Medical Center in Norwalk where he was pronounced dead at 1:05 p.m.

Sheriff’s homicide detectives believe that the men could be criminally charged in Adams’ death because it appears that their crime contributed to the fatal heart attack, Wehner said. However, the final decision on what charges to file, if the men are caught, rests with the district attorney’s office.

Under California law, criminals who commit inherently dangerous felonies, such as robbery, in which a death occurs can be charged with murder even if they did not intend to kill their victim.

However, those who commit misdemeanors that result in or contribute to a death generally cannot be charged with any crime more serious than involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in state prison.

Shoplifting of items valued at less than $400 is generally considered petty theft, a misdemeanor.