Gun-wielding suspect shot in Riverside after Yucaipa armed robbery

Two suspects, including a 17-year-old, were apprehended and identified Monday evening, July 9, after a Yucaipa AT&T Store was robbed earlier in the day. One of the alleged suspects was shot by officers after the gun-wielding man fled from officers after the robbery, leading to an hours-long manhunt.

Officials later identified Kenshael Airrington, 21, of Riverside, as the man shot by deputies. The juvenile has not been identified due to his age.

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Deputies assigned to the Yucaipa Police Department responded to the AT&T Store at 33423 Yucaipa Blvd. shortly after 12:30 p.m., after receiving reports of an armed robbery that had just occurred at the business.

Responding deputies interviewed victims and witnesses at the location and learned that two vehicles fled the scene after the robbery and were occupied by the two alleged suspects involved in the robbery. The vehicles were described as a white sedan and gold sedan.

Deputies immediately broadcast information regarding the suspect’s vehicles to surrounding law enforcement agencies, and within minutes a Sheriff’s Aviation Crew located one of the vehicles traveling westbound on the 91 Freeway.

Deputies conducted a felony traffic stop, at which time the 17-year-old male was taken into custody without incident.

A short time later California Highway Patrol officers located the second vehicle in Riverside, but the driver “bailed out of the vehicle and ran,” according to San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials.

The suspect, later identified as Airrington, fled into a nearby flood control channel near Van Buren Blvd. and Arlington Ave., and “barricaded himself” inside the miles-long tunnel, said officials.

A subsequent hours-long manhunt went on until an alert citizen spotted Airrington climbing out of a manhole and notified officers. Still armed with a handgun, Airrington reportedly ran into an Agua Pura water store, located between the Cardenas Market and a 99¢ store, inside a strip mall southwest of the intersection.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies, along with California Highway Patrol and Riverside PD officers, surrounded the store. Members of Riverside PD’s SWAT also assisted with the lengthy situation and Riverside PD’s mobile command center was also brought to the scene during the day-long incident and subsequent investigation.

At around 7:30 p.m., the still armed suspect was spotted trying to flee from the rear of a water business at the strip mall and an officer involved shooting occurred.

After being shot, Airrington was transported by ground ambulance to an area hospital in unknown condition. Officials have not released any information or updates regarding the alleged suspect’s injuries or current medical status.

Although Riverside PD officials have stated the officer involved shooting did not involve any of their department members, because the shooting happened within their jurisdiction their department is conducting the officer involved shooting investigation. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Specialized Investigations Division is investigating the originally reported armed robbery.

The two investigations are active and ongoing and officials have not released any additional information.

There were no other reported injuries related to the robbery or subsequent shooting or investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Josh Guerr or Sergeant Mike Walkery of SBSO’s Specialized Investigations Division at (909) 387-3589. Callers can refer to incident file numbers 141802182 and/or 2018-060 and can remain anonymous. People wishing to remain anonymous can also contact WeTip at (800)78-CRIME or www.wetip.com.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.