An alleged 7-Eleven robbery suspect was reportedly assaulted by two store employees after it's believed he attempted to rob the store three times in a 24-hour span, according to the Stockton Police Department.
A video of the altercation, which took place on July 29, has garnered national attention. The footage, lasting over five minutes, depicts a man hastily clearing store shelves, mainly of cigarettes, before two clerks intervene. As one clerk pins the man down, the other can be seen striking him with an object resembling a pole.
The manager of the 7-Eleven declined to comment directly on the incident, directing inquiries to the corporation's spokesperson. As of now, 7-Eleven has not issued a statement or responded to media queries.
Stockton Police have provided further information, revealing that the same suspect is believed to have targeted the store twice before on July 28 and once again on July 29.
The first incident occurred at 3:41 a.m. on July 28, when the suspect allegedly ventured behind the counter, threatening to shoot a clerk if they tried to stop him. The man subsequently took several cigarette packs and fled the scene.
In a second attempt on July 29 at 12:27 a.m., the individual reportedly simulated having a handgun and demanded money. Upon the clerk's refusal, the suspect is believed to have taken food items before making his exit.
Later that same day, the suspect is thought to have revisited the store, resulting in the aggressive confrontation captured in the viral video.
Interestingly, Stockton police were not informed of the attempted robbery and subsequent assault when it initially occurred. However, they responded around 3:45 a.m. to a call for medical assistance from a man complaining of leg and shoulder pain. The individual, now identified as the alleged 7-Eleven robber, was uncertain if he had been assaulted.
Connecting the dots, the police have used witness video footage to link all these incidents. Once their investigation wraps up, the findings will be submitted to the San Joaquin County district attorney for further review.
