A clerk at a business near East Butler Avenue and South Hazelwood Boulevard in Fresno was confronted by an armed robber who flashed a black handgun and warned it was loaded before demanding cash from the register, according to police. The holdup happened late on Sunday, September 27, at about 9:11 p.m., and investigators are now asking the public to help identify two suspects caught on camera.
According to the Fresno Police Department, the pictured suspects were involved in an armed commercial robbery at the business that night. Police say the man identified as suspect No. 2 entered the business, produced the black-colored handgun, and told the clerk the weapon was loaded before demanding money from the register. Suspect No. 1, meanwhile, stayed near the business's front door, appearing to serve as a lookout while the robbery unfolded inside.
The pair left the scene with approximately $500 in cash, police say. No further details about the suspects' identities, descriptions, or the specific business targeted have been released, and the department's post does not say whether anyone was injured or whether an arrest has since been made.
Detectives Pressing for Tips
The Fresno Police Department is seeking the community's assistance in identifying the suspects involved. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Mohit Kumar directly, either by phone at 559-621-2119 or by email at [email protected].
For those who'd rather not give their name, information providers can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers, which accepts anonymous tips at 559-498-STOP (7867). The department's appeal for tips was posted Thursday, nearly a week after the robbery itself occurred.
Same Corner, Different Case
The East Butler and Hazelwood area has seen gunpoint robberies before. In a separate incident reported by KMPH, a man walked into Latino Liquor near Butler Avenue and Hazelwood Boulevard at around 9:25 p.m. and robbed the clerk at gunpoint using a rifle, later fleeing with roughly $1,000 in cash on a stolen BMX bike after also taking the clerk's cell phone and debit card. It is not established whether that case and the September 27 robbery are connected, but the overlap underscores how often this stretch of the neighborhood has drawn police attention.
For now, investigators are relying on the public to help put names to the faces caught on surveillance footage from Sunday night's robbery. Anyone who recognizes the suspects is urged to reach out to Fresno police or Crime Stoppers.
