Would-be beer thieves take shots at store, land in jail

CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. — (Dec. 27) Two disgruntled customers are in jail after attempting to steal beer from a 7-Eleven and later shooting at the store.

According to the Citrus Heights Police Department, Dennis Wayne Edens, 20, of 4919 Willard Avenue, Sacramento, and 20-year-old Justin Ray Swett, 805 Sun Ray Court, Rio Linda, stopped at the 7-Eleven store located on 6170 Auburn Boulevard some time after 4:30 a.m. Saturday. Allegedly, both men attempted to steal beer from the store but had been stopped by the clerk.

Edens and Swett got into a gray pickup truck, then allegedly fired some shots at the store.

One bullet went through a window, damaging a sign and other store fixtures. No one had been injured during the shooting.

The clerk contacted the Citrus Heights Police. At the same time, an officer on routine patrol in the area had heard the gunshots and drove to the store. He saw the suspects leaving in the pickup and followed them.

Citrus Heights police officers and Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies stopped the pair in Carmichael. Both men were arrested and taken into custody. Edens and Swett have been charged with shooting from a vehicle, shooting at an inhabited building, carrying a loaded weapon, carrying an unregistered weapon, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Edens had also been charged with DUI.

Both remain in custody at the Sacramento County Main Jail.