Suspect in Robbery and Brutal Beating Apprehended
SAN JACINTO- Following the investigation of an assault that left a San Jacinto 7-11 clerk in critical condition, a suspect was arrested and charged with attempted homicide.
On Sunday December 23, an assault was reported in the 1400 block of South San Jacinto Avenue at a 7-Eleven store. Officers from the San Jacinto Police Department arrived to find an injured employee. On further investigation, police discovered that a Hispanic male had entered the store grabbed a 40-ounce bottle of beer and ran out of the store. An employee attempted to stop the suspect from stealing the beer, chasing the suspect into the parking lot.
Robert Gomez
When the employee reached for the suspect, he slipped, falling and banging his head hard enough to be knocked unconscious. At this time, the suspect returned, hitting the employee with the full bottle of beer and preceding to punch and kick him. After severely beating the unconscious victim, the suspect fled on foot and could not be found anywhere in the vicinity when officers arrived. The victim was transported to the hospital with a major head injury and remains in critical condition.
On Wednesday, the San Jacinto Police Department’s crime analyst reviewed a surveillance tape of the crime scene and felt there were similarities between the suspect in the assault and another male who had been arrested for theft in San Jacinto. Officers from the Special Enforcement team agreed that they recognized the suspect as a known criminal. These officers then located the suspect, 20-year-old Robert Gomez at a business in Hemet and arrested him. After speaking to investigators, Gomez was charged for the assault. Based on the severity of the beating and the degree of injury to the victims, charges were filed for attempted homicide and Gomez is being held at the Larry Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on $1,000,000 bail.
Read More:
Press-Enterprise: Suspect arrested in theft, beating of 7-Eleven clerk
SWRNN: Suspect in savage beer bottle attack arrested in Hemet
