July 11, 2022
LA HABRA, CA—Five people were shot during the course of six robberies at 7-Eleven stores across Southern California early Monday morning and police believe at least four of the robberies are connected.
Authorities say at least four of the incidents have been committed by the same person—identified as an African-American male.
Four of the incidents involved shootings and the other two were robberies without injuries. Two people who were shot later died, according to ABC7.
The robberies happened over a span of five hours between two counties at stores in Brea, La Habra, Riverside, Upland, Santa Ana, and Ontario.
Brea police responded to a 7-Eleven store at Lambert Road and North Brea Boulevard around 4 a.m. and found the store clerk shot to death during a robbery.
According to the Brea police, the Lambert shooting is believed to be related to another shooting that left at least two people injured at a 7-Eleven store in the 300 block of East Whittier Boulevard in La Habra.
Those two shootings happened about 20 minutes apart.
Upland police reported an armed robbery at a 7-Eleven located at 2100 Block Arrow Route. The same suspect connected to the Brea and La Habra robberies is believed to have perpetrated the Upland robbery as well, according to ABC7.
The African-American suspect allegedly stole drinks, bottled wine, and between $400 and $500 in cash.
Below is a timeline of events compiled by ABC7 of the reported incidents at various 7-Eleven stores on Monday, July 11, according to authorities.
12 a.m.
A 7-Eleven in the 600 block of North Vine Avenue in Ontario was reported. There were no injuries. Police are still looking to see if it was connected to the other robberies.
12:37 a.m.
Police in Upland reported an armed robbery at a 7-Eleven store located at 2100 Block of Arrow Route.
1:50 a.m.
Riverside police reported a robbery and shooting at a 7-Eleven located at 5100 Block of La Sierra Ave. One customer was shot and remains in grave condition. Police say there was no indication the customer or store clerk did anything to provoke the gunman.
3:23 a.m.
Police say a man was shot and killed in the parking lot of the 7-Eleven store at 300 Block East 17th St. in Santa Ana. The victim was later identified as Matthew Rule, 24, of Santa Ana.
4:18 a.m.
Police say a clerk was shot and killed at a 7-Eleven store on Lambert Road and N. Brea Boulevard in Brea during a robbery.
4:55 a.m.
A clerk and a customer were both shot and injured during a robbery at the 7-Eleven store located at 1381 E. Whittier Blvd. in La Habra, according to police.
7-Eleven United States is a subsidiary of Japan’s Seven & I Holdings.
Feature Images via ABC7