A man killed his accomplice in an apparent accidental shooting during a botched robbery in El Sereno this morning, police said.

The shooter was arrested and his accomplice was dead at the scene when cops arrived to a market at Alhambra and Hollister avenues shortly after 11:15, Los Angeles police Officer Nuria Venegas told us.

The alleged robbers scuffled with an owner or employee at the market, and one who had a rifle fell, possibly causing the weapon to go off, she indicated:
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“During an altercation with the store owner the suspect with the rifle fell to the ground and shot suspect number two,” Venegas said.

The dead man had been armed with a machete, she alleged.

The suspected shooter was arrested at the scene, but it wasn't immediately clear what police would book him for, Venegas said.

In some previous cases where conspirators die in botched robberies, their accomplices have been accused of murder.

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