On Jan 31 an armed robbery occurred at the Liquor Bin located at 4645 Cherry Ave in San Jose. The suspect demanded cash while brandishing a small semi-automatic handgun. The suspect then fled on foot to a parked car nearby.
22-year-old Angel Albert Rodriguez-Leon was identified as the suspect in the robbery. Surveillance footage taken during the robbery helped provide images that helped identify Rodriguez-Leon and the vehicle used in the getaway, but with few leads by investigators, Rodriguez-Leon remained at large.
Then on Feb 13 another robbery was committed at the Vista Liquors located at 1484 South White Road in San Jose. Rodriguez-Leon is suspected of entered the convenience store brandishing a black semi-automatic hand gun. This time, however, the suspect went behind the counter and took 400 – 500 dollars in cash from the register. However, there was little to help to identify Rodriguez-Leon because the suspect had hidden himself with a black jacket that partially covered his face and a pair of gloves to help conceal his identity.
The clerk remembered the suspect saying, “Give me the money. Give me money.” The clerk, fearing for his life, handed the suspect some money. However, unsatisfied with the clerk’s action, he demanded all the money, becoming angrier with the clerk. Video surveillance was collected for evidence at the scene.
That same day another robbery occurred at the Hillsdale Market at 3100 Monterey Road. The suspect quickly entered the store and demanded the money from the cash register. After taking the cash, this time he hit the cashier behind the head before fleeing. Then a third robbery was reported at the Minit Mart & Junior Deli located at 2604 Alum Rock Ave. This time another suspect, 25-year-old Jesus Beltran Escobar, was seen keeping a lookout while Rodriguez-Leon entered the store. One suspect displayed a silver handgun while the second suspect held a black semi-automatic handgun.
The Kwikee Mart was one of the many stores robbed by the pair.
Rodriguez-Leon struck a fourth time. This time he robbed the Kwikee Mart Convenience store located at 2044 McKee Road. This marked the fourth robbery in the same day. The suspect told an employee stocking the shelves, “Come this way and give me all the money in the cash register or I’ll shoot you.” The employee complied. This time Rodriguez-Leon was able to flee with $1200 dollars in cash, escaping using a red vehicle observed in other robberies.
According to Sgt. Heather Randol with the SJPD, “Between December 28, 2013 and February 28, 2014, a series of 20 armed robberies occurred at various liquor stores and small markets in the City of San Jose”. The suspects were becoming more violent now, with the discharging of a firearm during their robbery spree and more than 2 robberies occurring in a single day.
The suspects were finally apprehended near the Willow Glen area with several officers in pursuit, after reports of another robbery in the East San Jose area. An officer spotted the suspects and quickly called for backup. The use of the Sheriff’s helicopter 1 was also called to the scene in order to help capture the suspects after fleeing on foot once they were boxed in by patrol units.
The next court appearance for both suspects is on March 17, 2014 at 9:00 AM for further plea.
Read More:
CBS SF Bay Area: San Jose Police Arrest Suspected ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop’ Bandits
KTVU: Two suspects arrested in rash of South Bay armed robberies
