7-Eleven Shootings: 2 Dead, 3 Wounded At 4 Stores
Two people were killed and three wounded in robberies before dawn Monday at four 7-Eleven stores in Southern California.
The shootings occurred on the 95th anniversary of the convenient store chain. They were passing out free slurpees in celebration that day.
Authorities are looking for one suspect who they believe robbed at least 3 out of 6 stores he visited.
Stores that were hit were in the cities of Ontario, Upland, Riverside, Santa Ana, Brea and La Habra.
Ryan Railsback, a spokesperson for the Riverside Police Department stated that the date was no accident.
“There’s no way it can be a coincidence of it being 7-Eleven, July 11,” Railsback said.
He also added, if you go hit a liquor store or a 7-Eleven or a fast food place, you’re not going to get a lot of cash out of it,” he said. “It’s kind of odd that they would do this.”
The Riverside shooting, whose victim was in grave condition, had not yet been officially connected to the others, Railsback said, “although they all seem very, very similar”.
In that case, the gunman robbed the clerk and brandished a gun, then turned the weapon on a customer, opened fire and fled, Railsback said.
7-Eleven Inc. issued a statement saying it was gathering information and working with police. “Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones.”
While police in La Habra, Brea and Santa Ana have said they believe they are seeking the same suspect, officials in Ontario, Upland and Riverside have not yet made that determination — though they said they were aware of the other crimes at 7-Eleven stores.
The suspect is still on the run.