At least 2 dead and 3 injured in shootings at multiple 7-Eleven stores

• At least two dead and three injured in shootings at several 7-Eleven stores in California.
• The chain of violence occurred in a span of about five hours on July 11, or 7/11, the day the national brand 7-Eleven celebrates its anniversary.
• Authorities said they were looking for the same lone gunman in at least three of the shootings.

Two people were killed and three others were injured in pre-dawn robberies Monday, July 11, at six 7-Eleven stores in Southern California. Authorities said they were looking for the same lone gunman in at least three of the crimes. The Associated Press.

The chain of violence occurred in a span of about five hours on July 11, or 7/11, the day the national chain, 7-Eleven, celebrates its anniversary. This is its 95th year and on Monday the stores gave away Slurpees.

The date of the shootings was not a coincidence

It was not immediately clear to investigators what sparked the violence in the cities of Ontario, Upland, Riverside, Santa Ana, Brea and La Habra. «I think the only person who would answer that would be the suspect,» said Officer Ryan Railsback, a spokesman for the Riverside Police Department.

But he said the date was not an accident. «There’s no way it’s a coincidence that it’s 7-Eleven, on July 11,» Railsback said. 7-Eleven Inc. released a statement saying it was gathering information and working with police. «Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones,» the statement said. Filed Under: 7 Eleven shootings.

How did the first robbery at 7 Eleven happen?

The first robbery happened around midnight in Ontario, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) east of Los Angeles. The masked man brandished a gun at the store clerk and demanded money, according to Ontario Cpl. Emily Hernandez. He did not fire any shots and the employee was not injured. It was not immediately clear to investigators what, if anything, was stolen.

The second robbery happened about 45 minutes later in Upland, less than five miles from the Ontario store. The suspect approached the store clerk with a few items, «some drinks and things,» and brandished a semi-automatic pistol, Upland Sgt. Jake Kirk said. The man stole the items and between $400 and $500 in cash and fled. There were no shots fired. Filed Under: 7 Eleven shootings.

The suspect’s face is shown

Surveillance photos, released by Upland and Brea police, show a masked man in a black hoodie with a hood pulled over his head. The sweatshirt had white lettering with green leaves on the front. While police in La Habra, Brea and Santa Ana have said they believe they are looking for the same suspect, officials in Ontario, Upland and Riverside have yet to make that determination, although they said they were aware of the other crimes in the 7-Eleven stores.

“It could potentially be the same person, but we are not confirming that at this time,” Kirk said. About an hour after the robbery in Upland and 25 miles away in Riverside, a gunman robbed the 7-Eleven employee, then pointed the gun at a customer, opened fire and fled, he said. Railsback Police believe the clerk handed over cash from the register. The shooting victim was in serious condition. Filed Under: 7 Eleven shootings.

Another robbery at a 7-Eleven ended in a shooting

“There does not appear to be any reason why the suspect shot the customer,” Railsback said. «It appears the clerk gave him everything he asked for.» Railsback said criminals generally know that robberies at convenience stores rarely bring in large amounts of money, especially during nighttime hours.

“If you go to a liquor store or a 7-Eleven or a fast food place, you’re not going to make a lot of money,” he said. «It’s a little strange that they did this.» Another shooting happened about 3:20 a.m. about 24 miles (39 kilometers) away in Santa Ana, authorities said.