Multiple felony charges were filed against 19-year-old Kiongozi Jones of Long Beach on October 10 in connection with a series of convenience store robberies last month, police said today.
The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) said that the commercial robberies occurred at convenience stores on the 400 block of Atlantic Avenue and the 200 block of West Willow Street on September 22 and September 24.
During both incidents, an armed male suspect—later identified as Jones—entered the stores and demanded money from the cashier.
Similar incidents occurred on September 27 and September 28 when a male suspect attempted but failed to commit an armed robbery to a convenience store in the 1000 block of Long Beach Boulevard.
Long Beach Robbery Detective Nancy Mora began investigating the robberies and noticed similarities. While Mora was investigating, police learned that another robbery occurred on September 29 at a convenience store in the 800 block of East Ocean Boulevard.
A Long Beach resident alerted police on October 7 that a suspicious person was hiding in the bushes on the 5000 block of Long Beach Boulevard. Arriving officers arrested Jones for possession of a replica firearm.
The case was presented on October 10 to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office (LADA), which filed three counts of robbery and three counts of attempted robbery against Jones, who is currently being held in Los Angeles County Jail.
Anyone with information regarding these crimes is asked to call Long Beach Robbery Detective Mora at 562-570-5536. Anonymous tips may also be submitted by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus the tip to 274637 (CRIMES) or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.