Police respond to two armed robberies Easter weekend

The Gilroy Police Department responded to two armed robberies this weekend that occurred within six minutes of each other and in close proximity on I.O.O.F Avenue.

The first incident occurred at 10:26 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of I.O.O.F. and Murray avenues. The suspects are described as two hispanic males between the ages of 15 and 17; the first wearing a white/gray sweatshirt and the second wearing a black sweatshirt. Police say the Spanish-speaking suspects entered the cab of an on-duty taxi, then attacked the driver while demanding money. One suspect punched the victim while the other attempted to choke him from behind, according to a GPD press report. The two suspects fled south on Murray Avenue after taking an undetermined amount of money from the driver, police say.

Officers believe one of the suspects might have been armed with a knife, which was not brandished during the robbery according to the press report. The driver sustained minor injuries during the robbery but refused medical treatment. Only limited descriptions of the suspects are available as the victim did not get a good look at his assailants, police say. Both suspects are still at large. 

The second armed robbery occurred about six minutes later at 10:32 p.m. on the 500 block of I.O.O.F Avenue. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male measuring 5-feet-11-inches, between the ages of 18 and 21 and wearing a black baseball cap, black shirt and black pants. Police say the suspect brandished a knife and confronted a victim who was walking on the 500 block of I.O.O.F Avenue. The suspect asked the victim if he was affiliated with a gang, “but the victim was not gang affiliated,” the report states. The suspect robbed the victim of personal property, then fled south on Murray Avenue. The suspect is still at large. 

The victim was not injured during the robbery. Police believe the suspect to be gang-affiliated, according to the press release. 

It is unknown at this time if the suspect involved in this robbery is one of the two outstanding suspects associated with the first robbery that occurred Saturday night. 

There are no new leads or developments in the two cases as of Monday, according to GPD Sgt. Chad Gallacinao. He said the crimes remain under investigation and have been forwarded to the Detective Unit and Anti-Crime Team for investigation.

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