Jeweler, Carrying an Uzi, Shoots Alleged Robber to Death

A Cucamonga jeweler, armed with a semi-automatic handgun and an Uzi submachine gun, fatally shot one of the two men who reportedly robbed him at gunpoint in a Carlsbad service station Friday morning, police said.

John Levario, 46, killed Fred Earl Hayden, 21, of Los Angeles, with a Beretta pistol after Hayden and another man had stolen cash and jewelry from Levario shortly after 1 a.m. Friday, said Carlsbad police Sgt. Bill Huntington.

California Highway Patrol officers caught a second suspect, who identified himself to police with two names, Christopher Pierre Blanchard and Carlos Love, about an hour later as he was walking along the median of Interstate 5, Huntington said.

According to police reports, Levario and his 18-year-old daughter pulled into a Mobil service station in the 800 block of Palomar Airport Road to get gas when the two men approached them and demanded money from Levario.

Hayden was carrying a .45-caliber pistol, Huntington said.

The men took about $500 and the jewelry Levario was wearing, but apparently didn’t know Levario’s occupation, Huntington said.

“Some of the chains and things around his neck were literally ripped off his neck,” Huntington said. “Apparently, the suspects did not know if he had more merchandise.”

After the robbers turned to run, Levario took his weapons from his car and began firing.

“He was fearing for his life and for his daughter’s life,” Huntington said.

The second man, a 23-year-old from Los Angeles, escaped without injury and drove away in a car, Huntington said. Police found the car with a flat tire a few miles away, Huntington said.

No charges were filed against Levario, who had a concealed weapons permit, Huntington said.