Fourth Suspect Arrested in Moreno Valley Robbery and Cross-County Police Pursuit

MORENO VALLEY – The fourth of five suspects involved in a robbery and attempted homicide at a Moreno Valley pawn shop was arrested on Wednesday.

On December 12, the Moreno Valley Police dispatch received a report of a robbery at Empire Jewelry and Loan, located at 24571 Sunnymead Blvd. in Moreno Valley. Upon arriving, officers discovered four masked men brandishing handguns had robbed the business and shot an employee. A fifth suspect was waiting in a dark-colored Lexus, in which all five suspects fled.

Following the identification of the vehicle and an attempted stop by officers from the California Highway Patrol, police began pursuit. The high-speed chase began in Riverside area and ended in the city of Fullerton, where suspects fled from the vehicle on foot.  Cal State Fullerton was locked down for a time while officers gave chase. Damine Lavonte Banks, a 30-year-old, and Jerome Renard Allen, a 23-year-old, both from Los Angeles, were apprehended by officers and arrested. Another suspect, Traevon Cortez Vidaud, a 24-year-old from Compton, allegedly carjacked another vehicle as he was being chased on foot.  Vidaud initiated a second high-speed pursuit that ended in Los Angeles where he too was apprehended. All three were taken into custody, booked for robbery, attempted murder and other charges. The other two suspects remained at large.

On Wednesday, the fourth suspect, Roosevelt Andrew Fernandez, 26-years-old from Compton was booked into custody at the Robert Presley Detention Center for charges ranging from attempted murder, robbery, conspiracy, gang association, parole violation and using a firearm during the commission of a robbery.

The victim’s name continues to withheld for his safety, and he was last reported in critical, but stable, condition. The case is ongoing and investigators are still seeking the fifth suspect. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact investigator Rose with the Moreno Valley Police Department at 951-486-6710.

Read More:

LA Times: 4th arrest in armed robbery that led to Cal State Fullerton lockdown

NBC Southern California: 4th Suspect Arrested in Robbery, Pursuit That Led to CSU Fullerton Lockdown

OC Register: 4th arrest tied to events leading to CSUF lockdown