Jury Convicts 1 of 3 Defendants in Deadly Highland Park Robbery Spree

By ELIZABETH MARCELLINO

HIGHLAND PARK, CA - One of three co-defendants charged in a string of armed robberies -- one of which ended in the killing of a convenience store clerk -- was convicted today, while a second jury reached verdicts on the other co-defendants.

Eric Tyrone Carter, 24, was convicted of seven counts of second-degree robbery. Jurors also found true allegations that a gun was used during the commission of each of the seven robberies and that Carter personally used a handgun during three of the crimes.

Carter was charged along with Rasheen Childs, 21, and Bryant Moore, 24, though a different jury deliberated the fate of Childs and Moore, who are each facing a murder charge along with many robbery counts.

The verdicts on the charges against Childs and Moore are scheduled to be read tomorrow at 9 a.m.

Prosecutors said Childs and Moore went into a convenience store in the 6100 block of North Figueroa Street in Highland Park on Dec. 22, 2013, posing as customers.

Childs pointed a handgun at clerk Gonzalo Garcia-Garcia and when the clerk ran, Childs shot him once before running out of the store.

Childs, who was on probation for a 2013 burglary conviction and a 2012 possession of an unregistered handgun, is charged with 20 counts of robbery, one attempted robbery, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of assault, along with gun allegations and the murder charge, according to court records.

Moore is charged with 10 counts of robbery and one count each of attempted robbery and false imprisonment, in addition to Garcia-Garcia’s murder.

Prosecutors said the robberies took place during December 2013 and January 2014.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock