HELL'S KITCHEN, Manhattan (WABC) -- An investigation is underway after an employee at Morton Williams died after confronting a shoplifter in Friday night in Manhattan.

It happened at the store located at 917 Ninth Ave. near Columbus Circle just before 9:30 p.m.

Leobardo Hernandez, 64, collapsed after the incident and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West on Friday night.

The father of four, including three sons and a daughter, worked at the Morton Williams in Hell's Kitchen to help make ends meet.

His sons say he was punched in his chest by the suspect and then found later at work lying on a milk crate.

On Monday, two of the victim's sons, Henry and Harold Hernandez, spoke out about his family's unimaginable loss.

"Very lovable, very very kind-hearted...everybody he met, everybody

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