Danville Trader Joe's Armed Robbery Suspect Charged With 3 Felonies

DANVILLE, CA — The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed three felony counts with enhancements against an Antioch man suspected of armed robberies in Walnut Creek and at a Danville Trader Joe’s parking lot.

Leon Cathay Fountain, 18, pleaded not guilty to one felony count with enhancement for armed robbery, and two felony counts with three enhancements in connection with the Trader Joe’s robbery. One of the enhancements comes from alleged involvement with the “Klap Street Gang,” according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Authorities say that in the robberies in both Danville and Walnut Creek, Fountain and a minor used an illegal AR-style assault firearm and other guns to steal Rolex watches reportedly valued between thirty and $40,000. The Klap Street Gang told Fountain and his associates to carry out the Danville robbery and where to sell the watch, the DA’s office said.

Similar robberies are going on across California. In March, a shootout took place at a busy outdoor restaurant in Beverly Hills after suspects tried to steal a diner’s $500,000 watch.

The Danville robbery took place on Friday afternoon, July 1 at Trader Joe’s at 85 Railroad Ave. The suspects allegedly followed victims in both Danville and Walnut Creek in cars to their destination. When victims got out, Fountain and other suspects allegedly surrounded them at gunpoint and demanded they hand over their watches.

No one was injured in either case, according to police.

Suspects were apprehended at their home in Antioch about two hours after the robbery, authorities said. Fountain is currently in the Martinez Detention Facility. The minors are in Juvenile Hall and have been charged with second-degree armed robbery.