Masked Gunman Robs Conroy’s Flowers In La Mesa, Escapes Police In Stolen Car

LA MESA, CA – A masked man armed with a shotgun robbed a flower shop Thursday in La Mesa before leading police officers on a high-speed pursuit and eventually escaping in a stolen car.

The suspect robbed Conroy's Flowers in the 5100 block of Jackson Drive shortly before 11 a.m., according to the La Mesa Police Department. Following the holdup, the man got into a getaway car and was driven out of the area, Lt. Brian Stoney said.

A few minutes later, an officer spotted the car, which had been reported stolen earlier in the day, headed westbound on Interstate 8 in the College area, according to police. The driver later exited the freeway at Mission Gorge Road and Fairmont Street. Officers chased the speeding car westbound on Camino Del Rio South to Texas Street, where it got back onto Interstate 8 headed eastbound. Officers lost sight of the car, which was speeding at almost 100 mph, at the interchange with Interstate 15.

Shortly after 1 p.m., San Diego police officers found the car abandoned in the University Heights area. The 2016 black Hyundai Elantra had a license plate with the number 7LNX477.

The suspect was described as a white man, 5-foot-8-inches tall, according to police. He was wearing all black clothing, a baseball hat, sunglasses and a red bandana covering his face. No description is available for the driver of the getaway car.

The robber and his partner remained at large as of Thursday afternoon. Police said they are considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information is asked to call the La Mesa Police Department at 619-667-1400.

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