Store owner shoots masked robbers dead
Fresno store owner confronted robbers as they were leaving. One suspect fled on foot and remains on the loose.
By Anthony Galaviz | Fresno Bee
Two robbers in ski masks were shot and killed Friday night by a store owner in central Fresno.
Fresno police Lt. Tim Tietjen said three armed men dressed in dark clothing and ski masks entered the Smoke N Vape Smoke Shop near the intersection of Blackstone and Cambridge avenues.
They demanded and took money out of a cashier drawer.
The store owner, who was outside at the time when the robbery initially took place around 9:30 p.m., re-entered the store and confronted the robbers as they were trying to leave.
Multiple shots were fired, though it was unclear exactly how many.
“As we understand,” Tietjen said, “there might’ve been an exchange of gunfire.”
Two of the suspects were shot and later pronounced dead at Community Regional Medical Center, police said.
The men were identified as Chris Casas, 22, of Fresno and Jesus Gonzalez, 18.
A third suspect fled on foot and remains on the loose. A description of the suspect was not immediately known.
The store owner was uninjured, and no employees or customers were hurt, police said.
Tietjen said the store owner is not expected to face any charges.
It is unclear if the store owner and the masked robbers knew each other.
Police also did not immediately release what types of guns were fired, while detectives continued their investigation.
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©2019 The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.)