California authorities arrest 2 suspects after deadly series of 7-Eleven shootings

Two suspects were arrested Friday following a series of robberies at 7-Eleven convenience stores in Southern California that left two people dead and three others injured.

Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin identified two male suspects, both from Los Angeles, during an afternoon news conference. The primary suspect is believed to be linked to a homicide, among other crimes, throughout Southern California, according to Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Alan Hamilton.

“The public now should rest and understand that these individuals have been taken into custody,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said at the news conference. “They need to know that the disposition, at least on this primary suspect, we want to make sure he does not and has no chance of being released.”

The armed robberies occurred in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties on Monday, or 7/11, the day the company celebrates its anniversary. Investigators are looking into the motive of the suspects and have not released information on whether the date is significant to the crimes.

Victims who were shot and killed in Brea and Santa Ana were identified by family and the authorities: Matthew Hirsch, 40, was a store clerk at a Brea store and Matthew Rule, 24, was gunned down in the parking lot of a Santa Ana store.

A customer was gravely wounded at a Riverside store and two people were shot in La Habra but were expected to survive, authorities said this week.

Following the robberies, 7-Eleven offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Contributing: The Associated Press