Video captures officer walking into 7-Eleven during armed robbery

KTLA 5

19 Jan 202403:21

Summary

TLDRAn armed robber held up a 7-Eleven clerk at gunpoint, forcing him to fill a bag with around $400 from the cash register. As the thief turned to escape, an off-duty police sergeant who was a regular customer entered the store. Realizing something was wrong from the clerk's expression, the sergeant chased after the fleeing suspect for over 1,500 feet outside before tackling him to the ground. Officers arrested 48-year-old Ramon Gonzalez and recovered the stolen money as well as a loaded handgun. Gonzalez now faces charges including robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Takeaways

😲 Armed robbery at 7-Eleven store in West Covina caught on surveillance video
😱 Robber demands money from clerk at gunpoint
🤠 Off-duty police sergeant walks in during robbery in progress
🚔 Sergeant recognizes something is wrong, chase ensues
🏃‍♂️ Robber attempts to flee with $400 cash, sergeant catches him outside
👮‍♂️ 17-year veteran sergeant able to apprehend robber after struggle
🔫 Loaded handgun recovered from robber
🚓 Backup officers arrive, suspect identified as 48-yr old Ramon Gonzalez
🗣 Victim clerk grateful to sergeant for intervening
🚔 Gonzalez faces charges of robbery and felon in possession of firearm

Q & A

What was Sergeant Abel Hernandez doing when he walked into the 7-Eleven store?
-He was a frequent customer who went to the store to say hello.
How much money did the robber take from the store?
-He took about $400.
What tipped off Sergeant Hernandez that something was wrong in the store?
-The clerk always had a smile, but had a frightened expression on his face when Hernandez entered.
How far did the robber get before Hernandez caught him?
-Hernandez caught him 15-20 feet outside the doors of the store.
What charges is the robbery suspect facing?
-The suspect, Ramon Gonzalez, is facing charges of robbery and felon in possession of a firearm.
How long has Sergeant Hernandez worked for the West Covina Police Department?
-He has been a veteran of the department for 17 years.
What made Hernandez realize something was wrong initially when he entered the store?
-He noticed the robber was wearing gloves and a ski mask even though it was a chilly night.
Did the robber resist arrest or struggle with officers?
-Yes, he put up a brief struggle before relenting to the officers.
What weapon did officers recover from the suspect?
-They recovered a loaded handgun.
Why does Hernandez believe he was able to catch the robber?
-He believes that being in the right place at the right time and his police training allowed him to react quickly to the armed robbery in progress.