(Los Angeles) Two people were killed and three were injured in shootings that occurred at four 7-Eleven convenience stores in Southern California early Monday morning, authorities said. At least three of the four attacks would be linked to the same shooter.
Posted at 5:40 p.m.
The shootings appear to have taken place after pre-dawn robberies or attempted robberies at the four convenience stores on July 11 – the day national brand 7-Eleven celebrates its 95e birthday by handing out free Slurpee drinks.
“Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones,” 7-Eleven said in a statement. We are gathering information about this terrible tragedy and working with local law enforcement. »
At this time, investigators do not know what prompted the shootings in the towns of Riverside, Santa Ana, Brea and La Habra, or why the violence occurred on July 11.
“I think the only person who could answer that question would be the suspect,” said Constable Ryan Railsback, spokesman for the Riverside Police Department, where the first shooting took place, at around 1:50 a.m. . He said there was no way it was a coincidence that it happened on July 11 at a 7-Eleven.
The Riverside shooting – where the victim was in critical condition – has yet to be officially linked to the others, Constable Railsback said, “although they all look very, very similar”.
In that incident, the shooter robbed the clerk and brandished a firearm, then turned the gun on a customer, and opened fire before fleeing, Railsback said.
“There doesn’t appear to be any reason why the suspect shot the client,” Railsback said. It seems the clerk gave him everything he asked for. »
Authorities said the second shooting occurred around 3:20 a.m., about 24 miles away, in Santa Ana.