A 36-year-old man was fatally shot early Sunday morning during what his friends say was a botched robbery attempt outside his Alamitos Beach home.
Thomas Mello was helping two friends pack musical instruments into their vehicle when two robbers approached and demanded their gear, according to an eyewitness account shared with the Long Beach Post through a second party.
Mello reportedly refused to give up the instruments and instead used Mace on one of the assailants, who responded by shooting Mello…