REGION - Law enforcement agencies are scrambling to identify the suspect or suspects involved in a series of 7-Eleven robberies that left a wake of violence across three counties.

The crimes all occurred, strangely enough, on 7/11. 

A clerk in Brea was shot and killed inside a convenience store, while a man outside a Santa Ana store was shot and killed.

An Ontario store was robbed just after midnight Monday at 636 N. Vine Ave.

A robbery in Upland occurred around 12:40 a.m. at 2410 W. Arrow Rte. An image taken from surveillance video shows a uncanny similarity to the Brea robbery and murder.

A Riverside 7-Eleven, 5102 La Sierra Ave., was robbed around 1:50 a.m. A customer was shot and was last listed in grave condition, according to the Riverside Police Department.

Investigators released two images taken from a surveillance camera inside the store, giving the public a clearer view of the outstanding suspect.

A man, identified as 24-year-old Matthew Rule, was shot and killed outside a 7-Eleven, 302 E. 17th St., just before 3:30 a.m. Santa Ana Police confirmed Monday afternoon their suspect was the man connected to the other 7-Eleven shootings.

Brea police officers and firefighters responded to the 7-Eleven, 109 W. Lambert Rd., around 4:18 a.m. to a report of an employee down, suffering from a gunshot wound. The clerk, identified as 40-year-old Matthre Hirsch, was pronounced dead by firefighters, according to the Brea Police Department.

Investigators believe the same suspect wounded two people at a La Habra 7-Eleven, 381 E. Whittier Blvd. La Habra police responded to the scene around 4:55 a.m. Both Victims were treated at a hospital where they were last listed in stable condition.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call Brea Police Det. Alfred Rodriguez at 714-671-4438, or email [email protected].

It is unclear if a robbery at a 7-Eleven in Vincent July 9 is connected to this string of Monday violence. The suspect. a Black man with a thin build and dressed in dark clothing, took cash while brandishing a handgun.

LA HABRA - Detectives from La Habra Police and the Sheriff’s Industry Station are investigating three suspects accused of being involved in a Hacienda Heights home invasion robbery Tuesday.

After Industry detectives identified a stolen vehicle they believe was used in the home invasion robbery, they learned La Habra officers had the vehicle and were searching for the suspects, according to Lt. James Long of the Sheriff’s Industry Station.

La Habra officers found a stolen gold 2008 Acura at a Chevron ExtraMile, 110 S. Harbor Blvd., before Noon. It is believed to be the same car seen fleeing the area of the home invasion, according to Sgt. Jose Rocha of the La Habra Police Department. 

Three suspects fled the Acura when La Habra officers attempted to contact them, setting off a containment search, Rocha said.

Two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old were found and taken into custody without further incident, Rocha said.

There was property inside the Acura that detectives are working to link to the Hacienda Heights home invasion, Rocha said.

The home invasion occurred around 10:30 a.m. in the 16000 block of Santa Bianca Drive Tuesday. Three suspects, one of them reported armed, entered a window and took $300 in cash, according to Sgt. David Cortinas of the Sheriff’s Industry Station.

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Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

REGION – La Habra Police are investigating an incident February 9 in which a man tried to lure a girl twice, police said.
 
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. in the area of Idaho Street and Whittier Boulevard. The man drove up to the girl in a lifted dark grey Ford truck and tried to get her inside, but she refused. The suspect fled the area and returned about an hour later, this time in a faded Honda Civic and tried to lure her in again, La Habra Police said.
 
The suspect is a Hispanic man, approximately 30 years old, has short black hair – similar to a buzz cut. He wore a grey/blue jacket and white tank top. He had visible tattoos on his right arm.
 
The lifted grey truck sported oversized tires, La Habra Police said.
 
Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to call La Habra Police Detective Nick Baclit at [email protected]. Reference case number 18-756.