FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Two men are in custody, Fresno police say they are responsible for in a series of robberies in the city.
Three liquor stores, three convenient stores, and three gas stations were struck -9 robberies in all over a period of two days, from February 9th to the 10th.
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer called the acts “brazen” as two of the robberies were just two minutes apart.
At PD headquarters, Chief Dyer played surveillance video that showed suspect Blaze Lopez, 21, armed with a semi automatic handgun, calmly walking into a convenience store and demanding money.
The Chief says thanks to the store’s video they were able to track down the getaway vehicle, locating it at the 7-11 at Palm & McKinley,
Inside the car, police say the driver, 26 year-old Brian Johnson, was caught with a 45 caliber hand gun in his waistband, two loaded magazines in his pocket and $1000 in cash.
Both suspects are now looking at least 25 years behind bars if convicted of the 9 counts of armed robbery. In one of the robberies the firearm discharged which adds to the seriousness of the crime.
Chief Dyer noted that both suspects had a limited criminal history, only misdemeanors – and to be as brazen and calm as they were stood out from most other robberies police have investigated.
Police believe sleep deprivation and drugs – specifically meth – may have been a factor.
