Teens who pointed gun at manager while fleeing Fall River Mills burglary arrested

August 9, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

CORRECTION: Although an earlier version of this report indicated the juveniles involved in this incident were hospitalized after the violent encounter, Shasta County Sheriff’s Sgt. St.Clair has since clarified that both were evaluated and treated at the scene and neither was found to have been seriously injured during the confrontation with the store’s manager.

FALL RIVER MILLS, Calif. — Two juveniles were arrested after a burglary and armed robbery at Fall River Mills Chevron/Sportsman’s Liquor led a violent confrontation between the business’s manager and alleged suspects early this morning, Sunday, Aug. 9.

While the two teens were fleeing the store with a shopping cart loaded with stolen liquor and other merchandise, the manager arrived at the scene in his vehicle after being notified by an employee regarding the interrupted burglary, according to officials.

When one of the youth pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the manager, fearing for his safety the manager “ducked and accelerated his car” striking the shopping cart and one of the teens.

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Deputies from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Burney Station were dispatched to the business located at 43202 Hwy. 299E at 5:48 a.m., after receiving reports of an armed robbery, Shasta County Sheriff’s Sgt. Marc St.Clair has since said of the incident and arrests.

Responding deputies learned that when an employee arrived at the business to open the store for the day she noticed the back-storage door was open and the business’ lights were on.

The employee then saw “a young Hispanic male” exit the building, while attempting to conceal his face with his tee-shirt wrapped around his head.

“The female employee was frightened and left the area, contacting the store manager,” said St.Clair.

The alleged 17-year-old suspects were both arrested after one of the pair pointed a handgun at the manager of Sportsman’s Liquor in Fall River Mills. “Fearing for his life, the manager accelerated and hit the cart and one of the suspects,” SCSO officials have since reported.

A few minutes later the store’s manager arrived in the area in his vehicle and quickly spotted the teens carrying merchandise and pushing a shopping cart filled with liquor stolen from the business toward the highway.

“When the manager confronted the two-male suspects, both of which were attempting to conceal their identity with their shirts, one of the suspects produced a small firearm and pointed the gun at the employee,” described St.Clair.

“The store manager, fearing for his life, accelerated and hit the cart and one of the suspects,” the Sgt. continued; saying the teens then fled on foot, leaving the stolen merchandise and liquor behind.

When deputies arrived in the area witnesses directed them toward the nearby rice fields where the suspects had last been seen fleeing toward after the collision.

While searching for the pair, a citizen directed deputies to the area of Hwy 299E and Airport Rd., stating he saw two teens who matched the description provided by one of the store’s employees.

Deputies quickly located the pair and apprehended them without further incident, according to St.Clair; who reported both suspects were found to be 17 years-old.

Witnesses have since said one of the alleged suspects has a family member or friend who was recently fired from the business; however, officials have not confirmed that detail or said if it was relevant to this morning’s burglary.

Because of the suspects’ ages, officials have declined to publicly identify them.

“Due to suspected intoxication and one of the minors being hit by a moving vehicle,” they were both medically evaluated according to St.Clair; who later said neither of the teens were found to be seriously injured.

Both minors were later booked into Shasta County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of first-degree robbery and second-degree burglary.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Shasta County Sheriff’s Burney Station at (530) 245-6070. Callers can refer to incident file number 20S024397 and can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and 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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.