Guard’s Gun Sends Robbers Fleeing
Two men wearing ski masks went on a brief robbery spree in Ventura Saturday morning until a security guard chased them away in a hail of gunfire, police said. Neither suspect was apparently hurt or apprehended.
Police said the masked robbers, armed with a chrome semi-automatic pistol, entered an unlocked door at a clothing store on Thompson Boulevard in Ventura after midnight Saturday.
They surprised the store’s owner, Tony Torres, and his employee Chad Archer who were working late after closing the store. The robbers demanded their wallets, then forced the victims into the restroom and fled.
About 30 minutes later, police said men matching the same description entered the closed Golf N’ Stuff off the Ventura Freeway. They surprised manager Margarito Ontiveros and security guard Thomas Huddleston in the office.
Police said the pair took Huddleston out of the office and then returned, demanding money from the manager. Huddleston, who was armed with a revolver, reappeared and surprised the two men, who fled without any money. The guard fired six shots at the men without hitting them as they ran through the golf course, police said.
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