Father and Son Arrested in Series of Store Robberies

Police have arrested three people, including a father and his teenage son, suspected of robbing several liquor stores and markets during a three-week crime rampage, San Fernando Police Chief Dominick Rivetti said Friday.

Louis Reyes Murillo, 44, of San Fernando and his 15-year-old son also are expected to be charged with shooting a customer who tried to stop one of the robberies, Rivetti said. Investigators believe that the third suspect, Ray Torres, 24, of San Fernando, was not present when the shooting occurred.

Police have linked the group to at least six robberies in San Fernando and Sylmar, beginning with a Jan. 22 holdup at Farm Fresh Market in the 500 block of Mission Boulevard.

The thieves usually operated in pairs, wearing knit caps and bandannas over their faces while threatening clerks with knives or guns, police said. Twice the robbers fled without stealing anything, and the other robberies netted a total of about $3,200.

“We had total cooperation from all the witnesses and the victims, and just some really outstanding police work on the part of the officers,” the chief said. Four of the robberies were allegedly carried out by Torres and the teenager, and Torres is believed to have robbed one market alone, Rivetti said.

“My gut feeling is all three were very willing,” he added.

In the most serious incident, Murillo and his son allegedly robbed a Mission Boulevard bar just after midnight Jan. 31, taking about $500 from a waitress. Murillo allegedly grabbed a patron by the neck and dragged him toward the door, attempting to shoot him twice in the head, Rivetti said. The gun did not go off.

Murillo dropped the man and fled, but a second customer tried to tackle him, Rivetti said. As the two struggled, Murillo’s son allegedly shot the customer once in the back. Police said the victim is recovering in a local hospital.