A couple died after they were pulled from a burning strip mall in South Los Angeles Tuesday morning.
Firefighters received a report of the blaze burning in the 4700 block of South Broadway Street around 5:35 a.m, fire officials said. The 99 Cents Plus store was engulfed in flames.
Firefighters had to cut through several layers of chains, gates and locks to get inside. A man and a woman were pulled from inside the building and carried out through the back of the business.
They were taken to the hospital in grave condition, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. They were both pronounced dead at the hospital.
Family members of the woman identified her as 50-year-old Loretta Kirkwood. The man has not yet been identified.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Oleevia Woo contributed to this report.
