Two suspects were arrested in connection with a spree of 7-Eleven store robberies, Valley News/Courtesy photo

UPDATE: RIVERSIDE (CNS) – With a manhunt continuing for the assailant who robbed a series of Southern California 7-Eleven stores, killing two people and injuring at least three others in the process, the convenience store chain offered a $100,000 reward today for information leading to the gunman.
The company “is offering a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect,” according to a 7-Eleven statement. “Tipsters may remain anonymous by contacting Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.”
The rash of violence — carried out on July 11, or 7-11 — prompted the 7-Eleven corporation to recommend that Los Angeles-area stores temporarily close their doors Monday night and again on Tuesday night.
“Our hearts remain with the victims and their loved ones, and our focus continues to be on franchisee, associate and customer safety,” according to a company statement Tuesday. “With that in mind, we have encouraged stores in the Los Angeles area to close again tonight.”
Investigations were continuing in six cities, but the same suspect may have been involved in a crime spree that stretched from San Bernardino County to Riverside County, then to Orange County — all involving 7-Eleven stores.


Riverside 7-11 shooting appears linked to store shootings in LaCo, OC

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Riverside police have confirmed that the same
suspect believed to have carried out a series of robberies and shootings at
Southland 7-Eleven stores — leaving at least two people dead — also appears
to have been involved in a robbery and shooting at a Riverside 7-Eleven that
left the victim in grave condition.

A police manhunt for the suspect is continuing today across three
counties following the rash of violence that was carried out on July 11 — or 7-
11.

The shootings prompted the 7-Eleven corporation to recommend that Los
Angeles-area stores temporarily close their doors Monday night — a suggestion
the company repeated for Tuesday night.

“Our hearts remain with the victims and their loved ones, and our
focus continues to be on franchisee, associate and customer safety,” according
to a company statement. “With that in mind, we have encouraged stores in the
Los Angeles area to close again tonight (Tuesday).”

The Riverside shooting occurred about 1:50 a.m. Monday in what police
described as an apparent robbery at the 7-Eleven at 5102 La Sierra Ave.

“We will not be releasing any suspect images in our investigation but
our detectives are working closely with the other law enforcement agencies
investigating these crimes,” Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback said in a
statement released Tuesday.

Brea police said they responded at 4:17 a.m. Monday to the 7-Eleven
store at Lambert Road and North Brea Boulevard and found a male store clerk
fatally shot in what officers determined to be a robbery.

The clerk was later identified as 40-year-old Matthew Hirsch, who died
at the scene, police said.

According to Brea police, that shooting is believed to be related to
another shooting that occurred a short time later in La Habra.

According to La Habra police Sgt. Eric Roy, officers responded at 4:55
a.m. Monday to a robbery at the 7-Eleven store at 381 E. Whittier Blvd.
When officers arrived, they found two gunshot victims who were taken to a
hospital by Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics, he said.

Both of the victims in the La Habra shooting were expected to survive,
Roy said. Police said the victims were a clerk and a customer.

At a late-morning news conference Monday, Brea Police Department Capt.
Phil Rodriguez said, “Based on some preliminary evidence we do believe it
is possibly the same suspect.”

Rodriguez said investigators were looking into possible connections to
other 7-Eleven shootings Monday.

“We are aware of other incidents that have occurred in the southland
at 7-Elevens,” Rodriguez said. “We obviously at this point can’t confirm
whether they are connected, but we assure you our detectives are looking into
that.”

Santa Ana police said 24-year-old Matthew Rule of Santa Ana was
fatally shot at 3:25 a.m. Monday outside the 7-Eleven store in the 300 block of
East 17th Street. Police found Rule in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to
the upper body, Santa Ana Police Department Sgt. Maria Lopez said. The victim
was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect apparently never entered the store in Santa Ana and it
appears he robbed Rule, Lopez said. It wasn’t clear if Rule was a customer of
the store or why he was there, Lopez said.

Based on surveillance photos of the suspect in the Brea and La Habra
shootings, Santa Ana police said they believe it was the same suspect in Santa
Ana, Lopez said.

The first 7-Eleven holdup in the crime spree may have occurred in
Ontario. Police said just after midnight Monday, the 7-Eleven at 636 N. Vine
Ave. was robbed. The suspect held up the store with a handgun, but no shots
were fired and no one was injured, police said.

A short time later in Upland, the 7-Eleven store at 2410 W. Arrow
Route was robbed at 12:40 a.m. Monday, police said. Investigators in Upland
were huddling with other agencies to see if there was a connection.

Anyone with information was asked to call Brea Police Department
Detective Alfred Rodriguez at 714-671-4438 or alfredr@cityofbrea.net.

Copyright 2022, City News Service, Inc.

City News Service (CNS)