2 Dead, Several Wounded In 7-Eleven Store Shootings Across SoCal

BREA, CA — A rash of 7-Eleven robberies and shootings struck the Southland Monday morning, claiming the lives of at least two people and wounding several others. Authorities suspect the robberies spanning LA Habra to Riverside may be connected.

A 7-Eleven store clerk was shot and killed in Brea, a second man was shot and killed at a Santa Ana 7-Eleven store, and a Riverside 7-Eleven customer is in grave condition after being shot Monday morning. Two additional people were shot and wounded at a 7-Eleven store in La Habra. The shootings coincide with 7-11 Free-Slurpee Day, the annual day on 7/11 when crowds flock to the store for free Slurpees.

"Based on some preliminary evidence we do believe it is possibly the same suspect," Brea police Capt. Phil Rodriguez said at a news conference about the shootings in La Habra and Brea.

"We are aware of other incidents that have occurred in the southland at 7-Elevens," Rodriguez said. "We obviously at this point can't confirm whether they are connected, but we assure you our detectives are looking into that."

Brea police released an image of the suspect, who is considered armed and dangerous. Authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying the robber.

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The 7-Eleven company issued the following statement about the shootings:

"Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones. We are gathering information on this terrible tragedy and working with local law enforcement."

Brea police said they responded at 4:17 a.m. to a 7-Eleven store at Lambert Road and North Brea Boulevard and found a male store clerk fatally shot in what officers determined to be a robbery.

According to Brea police, that shooting is believed to be related to another shooting in La Habra.

La Habra police responded about 4:55 a.m. to a robbery at a 7-Eleven store at 381 E. Whitter Blvd., La Habra police Sgt. Eric Roy said. When officers arrived they found two victims with gunshot wounds who were taken to an area hospital by Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics, he said

Both of the victims in the La Habra shooting were expected to survive, Roy said.

Meanwhile, Santa Ana police said 24-year-old Matthew Rule of Santa Ana was fatally shot at 3:25 a.m. outside the 7-Eleven store in the 300 block of East 17th Street.

Police found Rule in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the upper body, Santa Ana Police Department Sgt. Maria Lopez said. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect apparently never entered the store in Santa Ana and it appears he robbed Rule, Lopez said. It wasn't clear if Rule was a customer of the store or why he was there, Lopez said.

Based on surveillance photos of the suspect in the Brea and La Habra shootings, Santa Ana police said they believe it is the same suspect in Santa Ana, Lopez said.

And, in Riverside, a customer was shot about 1:50 a.m. in what police described as an apparent robbery at the 7-Eleven store at 5102 La Sierra Ave., according to Riverside Police Department Officer Ryan Railsback. Police said the victim in that shooting was in grave condition.

"The suspect entered the store, brandished a firearm and robbed the clerk, then shot a customer before fleeing the store on foot," Railsback said.

The first stickup may have occurred in Ontario. Police said just after midnight the 7-Eleven at 636 N. Vine Ave. was robbed. The suspect held up the store with a handgun, but no shots were fired and no one was injured, police said.

In Upland, the 7-Eleven store at 2410 W. Arrow Route was robbed at 12:40 a.m., police said. Investigators in Upland were huddling with other agencies to see if there was a connection.

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.