WHAT:
Press Conference

WHEN:
Wednesday May 19, 2004, at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE:
Parker Center 150 North Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles 90012

WHO:
Captain Allan Michelena, Robbery-Homicide Division; Detectives Steve Koman and Rodrigo Amador, Robbery-Homicide Division; Deputy Mellor, San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department; John Ragsdale, 7-Eleven Security Director.

Los Angeles: Robbery-Homicide Division personnel are investigating a series of 7-Eleven convenience store robberies that have occurred since July 2003, in the City of Los Angeles. The investigation grew in proportion when evidence surfaced identifying the same suspects robbing 7-Eleven stores in Torrance, Fontana, and Hesperia. The suspects enter the businesses during the early morning hours and assault the lone employee. The suspects further took money from the registers and remove the business safe. Simultaneously, one suspect takes the video surveillance tape and/or destroys the surveillance equipment.

To date, one witness in the Torrance robbery case was seriously injured. Several 7-Eleven employees have received scrapes, bumps, and bruises as a direct result of the crimes, but there have been no other serious injuries.

Detectives are asking the public’s assistance in identifying these suspects. They are described as:

• Suspect-1 Male, Black, 6’00"/6’05", 230/300 lbs., 20/30 years
• Suspect-2 Male, Black, 5’07"/6’00", 130/170 lbs., 20/30 years
• Suspect-3 Male, Black, 20/25 years

Detectives will provide copies of a security video to the media at the press conference.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Detective Steve Koman or Detective Rodrigo Amador, Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery-Homicide Division at 213-485-2129. On weekend and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL, (1-877-529-3855).

This news advisory was prepared by Officer Rudy Villarreal, Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.