Father, Son Arrested in Series of Robberies

SAN FERNANDO — Three people, including a father and his teenage son, were arrested on suspicion of robbing several liquor stores and markets during a three-week crime spree, San Fernando Police Chief Dominick Rivetti said Friday.

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

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

The robbers usually operated in pairs, wearing knit caps and covering their faces with bandannas while threatening cash register clerks with knives or guns, police said. Twice, the robbers fled without taking anything. 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,” Rivetti said. Four of the robberies were allegedly carried out by Torres and the teenager, and Torres is believed to have robbed one market alone, the chief said. “My gut feeling is, all three were very willing.”

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 then 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 fire.

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.

The suspects were taken into custody Thursday at the San Fernando home they share. Police searched the home and found three handguns, a rifle and a shotgun, as well as clothing that authorities believe was used during the robberies, Rivetti said.

All three face charges of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Murillo and Torres, who was recently paroled from prison, both have criminal records for robbery, Rivetti said. Police declined to release the teenager’s name because he is a juvenile.