A man died after being shot during the early morning hours of Jan. 20 near the corner of Melrose and Fairfax avenues in what police said was a botched robbery.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division responded to the scene after receiving multiple 911 calls about gunshots at approximately 2:13 a.m. They found a trail of blood leading north on Fairfax Avenue to an alley but were unable to locate a victim. The area was cordoned off and an investigation was launched into the shooting.

Witnesses told police that a black man wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, who was the gunshot victim, was seen running north on Fairfax Avenue and was picked up by a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Detectives contacted nearby hospitals and learned of a male victim who had been brought to a hospital for treatment and died, police said.

Detectives from the LAPD’s West Bureau Homicide Unit investigated and determined that the suspect who died had allegedly attempted to rob a man shortly before the shooting. Det. Herman Frettllohr said the gunshot victim approached four men who were loading property into a car near the intersection and pointed a gun. One of the men was also armed and pulled out a gun. The suspect and man who was allegedly being robbed both fired, and only the suspect was struck, Frettlohr said.

The unidentified robbery victims, one of who owns a business near the scene, stayed at and cooperated with police. The gun belonging to the robbery victim was taken into evidence by police and the incident is considered self-defense, Frettlohr added.

The man who allegedly picked up the suspect who died was arrested, and charged with attempted robbery and grand theft auto on Jan. 22. He was identified as Deon Antoine Carter, 27, of Los Angeles.