Customer shot, killed after Thorntons gas station robbery in Brighton Park

A customer was shot and killed during a gas station robbery in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood early Tuesday morning. 

Chicago police said just before 3 a.m., a group armed with handguns entered the Thorntons gas station off the Stevenson Expressway in the 3400 block of South California Avenue and demanded money from the cash register. 

Police said as the group left with cash, shots were fired at a 36-year-old man. 

Police said the victim died at the scene. 

A witness told CBS News Chicago the victim, who is a regular customer, warned an employee at the register right before the robbery. 

No other injuries were reported. 

No arrests have been made. 

Area One detectives are investigating. 

In September of 2024, three men were shot inside the same gas station. 

The shooting happened just after 10 p.m. on September 3, and two of the victims were employees.  

Police said four men were chasing a 25-year-old man and shot him. The wounded man then ran into the gas station, and was followed by one of the four men, who continued shooting at him.  

One of the employees who was shot was at the register.