Bumbling Teenage Robbers Terrorize San Jacinto Residents

SAN JACINTO – In two separate botched robberies, a gang of three teenagers brandished a handgun and threatened victims before ultimately being arrested.

On Tuesday, June 25 just after midnight, three teenagers approached a vehicle stopped at the intersection of Hewitt Avenue and Shaver Street in San Jacinto, attempting to flag down the driver. According to the victim, a 28-year-old male from Hemet, one of the juvenile suspects pulled out a handgun, pointed it at him and racked the slide on the gun. The victim sped off, fearing for his life and once he reached safety called 911.

Jacob Small

Officers from the San Jacinto Police Department responded to the call. Just before 1:00 AM while police were searching for the three suspects they received another call regarding a robbery three blocks away. Two victims, a 24-year-old male and a 25-year-old male reported that they were sitting at the bus stop near the intersection of San Jacinto Avenue and Esplanade Avenue when they were approached by three teenagers. One of the teenagers brandished a gun and demanded that the two victims empty their pockets. The victims proceeded to comply. However, the 25-year-old male pushed the gun away from his head and both victims began to fight off their attackers. The victims were able to escape and call police from a nearby 24-hour business.

Police were able to locate all three suspects a block away on Santa Fe Avenue. One of the suspects, later identified as 18-year-old Jacob Small of San Jacinto, still had the gun in his possession. Upon investigation, the handgun had been previously reported as stolen. All three suspects were detained, identified and arrested, the remaining suspects being two 17-year-old juveniles from Hemet and San Jacinto. Small was booked at the Larry D Smith Correctional Facility for robbery with a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, two counts of conspiracy and attempted robbery with a firearm.

Read More:

Press-Enterprise: Robberies Attempted Back-to-Back

Valley News: Man Accused in Armed Confrontation Arrested, Charged

Banning Patch: Three Suspects Thwarted in 2 Robbery Attempts