Two men have been arrested Friday in Los Angeles in reference to a string of deadly shootings at 7-Eleven shops in Southern California that left two useless and three injured, in addition to the deadly taking pictures of a homeless man in L.A.
Malik Patt, 20, and Jason Payne, 44, have been captured after being tracked by the Orange County Violent Crime Task Force following the collection of robberies and homicides that started every week in the past in Los Angeles and minimize throughout Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
“This was a reign of terror,” Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer mentioned in asserting the arrests together with authorities from throughout the area. “To be thinking that you go to a convenience store or a doughnut shop or a sandwich shop and to get shot in the face or call your loved one with your last gasps for breath.”
The job drive consisting of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives brokers and investigators from Orange County police businesses tracked the men for nearly a day to a house in the 1900 block of West twenty third Street and took them into custody shortly after 1 p.m.
Patt, authorities mentioned, was the gunman in the 7-Eleven shootings Monday. Security video from one of many robberies confirmed his face coated by a masks beneath a hooded sweatshirt, with solely his eyes seen; that picture was broadly circulated as police carried out an in depth manhunt and 7-Eleven provided a $100,000 reward for a tip resulting in an arrest.
Surveillance video from a 7-Eleven retailer in Brea reveals the gunman in a string of deadly robberies, recognized by authorities as Malik Patt, 20.
(Brea Police Department)
Patt and Payne are prime suspects in 11 robberies, and they’re anticipated to be charged Monday in Orange County with no less than two murders with particular circumstances that would consequence in the dying penalty, in line with Spitzer, Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin and L.A. Deputy Police Chief Alan Hamilton.
Hamilton mentioned the men are additionally suspects in a July 9 taking pictures of an unhoused man in North Hills, which occurred shortly earlier than 4 robberies close by, they usually could also be tied to different crimes in the weeks earlier than.
“We believe that there are a number of crimes throughout the Los Angeles region that may also lead back to this suspect,” Hamilton mentioned, referring to Patt.
Authorities initially sought the serial violent robbers after a holdup occurred in Ontario simply after midnight Monday, adopted by a theft at a 7-Eleven retailer in Upland about 40 minutes later. Neither resulted in accidents.
At 1:50 a.m. in Riverside, a 7-Eleven in the 5100 block of La Sierra Avenue was robbed. During the crime, the robber pulled a handgun and shot a buyer, who was in grave situation on the time. That sufferer has been recognized as 46-year-old Jason Harrel.
Then, about 3 a.m., one other armed theft occurred at a Yum Yum Donuts in Santa Ana. Shortly after, police responded to a taking pictures at a 7-Eleven location in Santa Ana, in the 300 block of East seventeenth Street.
Matthew Rule, 24, was robbed and fatally shot outdoors the shop, police mentioned, including that it didn’t seem the gunman entered the shop.
At 4:17 a.m., police responded to a different theft at a 7-Eleven in Brea. Store clerk Matthew Hirsch, 40, was fatally shot.
Finally, La Habra police responded to a theft at a 7-Eleven on East Whittier Boulevard at 4:55 a.m. Two unidentified victims, who’re believed to have been the clerk and a buyer, have been shot. Both are anticipated to outlive, authorities mentioned.
Law enforcement sources mentioned proof recovered in one of many Orange County robberies connects it to the 4 July 9 robberies at two 7-Elevens and two doughnut retailers that police have been investigating in the San Fernando Valley, in addition to the killing of an unhoused man close to a kind of scenes.
The armed robberies occurred over roughly 1½ hours early that day in North Hills, in line with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Detectives shortly decided that collection of crimes was “linked” to the taking pictures of a person in the top in the 16100 block of Parthenia Street, Hamilton mentioned, including that detectives additionally related it to the Orange County robberies.
On Thursday, 7-Eleven Inc. provided a $100,000 reward for information resulting in the arrest and conviction these concerned in the shootings. “Our hearts remain with the victims and their loved ones, and our focus continues to be on Franchisee, associate and customer safety,” the corporate wrote in an announcement.
A tip tied to a suspect was referred to as in to authorities after that reward was introduced, a legislation enforcement supply mentioned.
Georgan Browning, spouse of 60-year-old Russell Browning, who survived being shot in the face outdoors the La Habra retailer, mentioned she and her husband have been comfortable to study of the arrests.
“It brings a peace of mind to us that he’s captured and that he can’t hurt anyone else or disrupt any more lives,” the 74-year-old mentioned in a telephone interview with The Times. “We’re going to pray for him, for mercy.”
She mentioned the shooter should be hurting to have taken such a violent path that day.
Russell Browning, a truck driver, was sitting in his automobile outdoors the comfort retailer when he seen an individual subsequent to his passenger window. Before he realized what was occurring, a handgun was fired at him.
Browning’s spouse mentioned the bullet struck her husband’s lip and exited his jaw space. She mentioned he’s persevering with to get better.
“He’s got a long road ahead of him,” she mentioned. “He’s alive and he’s home.”
At least one of many suspects was injured whereas being taken into custody and wanted remedy. ATF brokers and job drive members had been following the pair earlier than the arrests.
DA Spitzer mentioned he expects that the felony proceedings for all of the offenses might be dealt with in one county. “There are murder, attempted murder, robbery charges,” Spitzer mentioned. “We need to connect a lot of dots. But the murder in Brea at the 7-Eleven and the murder in Santa Ana, we plan to file those charges by as soon as Monday.”
Times workers writers Grace Toohey and Itzel Luna contributed to this report.