Armed robbers hit three local businesses

Three local businesses – two restaurants and a video store – were robbed at gunpoint the evening of May 24, within 90 days of two other armed robberies here, the Sheriff’s Department has reported. One of the businesses, the Peking Wok restaurant, in Bonsall’s River Village, was a victim for a second time.

“On May 24, at approximately 8:42 p.m., two male adults entered the Peking Wok Restaurant, displayed a gun, and demanded the employee working the cash register to give them money,” said Sgt. Ron McCracken, of the Sheriff’s Fallbrook Substation. The suspects had the employee place the money in a bag and then fled the scene on foot.

Eighteen minutes later, at approximately 9 p.m., two suspects fitting the same description entered Movie Masters video store in the 200 block of East Mission Road in Fallbrook, displayed a weapon and demanded money. After placing the money in a black cloth bag, the suspects demanded more money from a male cashier and when the cashier told them there was no more money, officers say one of the suspects hit the man with the barrel of the gun, striking him in the side of the face. Both suspects then left the store.

Ten minutes later, at approximately 9:10 p.m., two individuals meeting the same description entered Rosa’s Mexican Food restaurant in the 1000 block of South Mission Road, where they displayed dark-colored revolver handguns, pointed the guns at the cashier and demanded money. In this case, one suspect had the cashier place the money in a dark-colored beanie cap while the other waved his revolver in the air and ordered restaurant patrons to “get on the ground.” The suspects then left the premises.

Authorities have not released the amount of money stolen in any of the armed robberies. The suspects have been described as follows:

Suspect #1: Tall/thin in stature, between 6’ and 6’2” in height, and approximately 180 lbs in weight.

Suspect #2: Short/stocky, between 5’6” and 5’10” in height.

Both suspects were wearing dark clothing, ‘hoodie’ style sweatshirts or shirts, and bandanas. Both were reported to be dark-skinned and at least one of the two was Spanish speaking.

Earlier the same evening, an attempted murder took place in the 500 block of West Ammunition Road. Sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Nemeth reported that a 14-year old male juvenile has been taken into custody relating to this assault.

The juvenile is under suspicion of stabbing Nicolas Francisco Pedro four times in the torso, causing life-threatening injuries. After being found lying on the sidewalk of an apartment complex, Pedro, who is estimated to be 24 to 25 years old, was airlifted to Scripps La Jolla Hospital where, as of press time, he appears to be recovering from his wounds.

Deputies located the juvenile suspect in the 400 block of West Aviation Road and found a bloody knife in his possession. The juvenile had some scratches on his body, but no other significant injury. He was taken to Fallbrook Hospital where his physical condition was checked before he was taken to a juvenile detention facility. As of press time, no motive for the attack was known.

Sgt. Nemeth reported that all incidents are still under investigation and that deputies are actively working leads from the robberies. Given the fact that five armed robberies have occurred in the community within the past 90 days (the two previous robberies occurred March 3 and 6); Nemeth extended a word of caution to the public.

“Any time you are going to patronize a business, anywhere you go, be alert, keep your eyes open, and if you see something that doesn’t look right, don’t hesitate to call 911,” Nemeth said. “If you find yourself in a place during a robbery, do what you are told; don’t give them any reason to hurt you or take it any further; they are after the money.”