This story has been updated.
Police have arrested two suspects linked to a deadly three-county crime spree targeting 7-Eleven convenience stores on Monday, July 11th. Twenty-year old Malik Patt and forty-four year old Jason Payne were both taken into custody by the ATF Orange County Violent Crimes Task Force near Los Angeles on Friday July 15th.
Police say the robberies started at midnight on July 11th. Patt robbed a 7-Eleven on Vine street in Ontario. Minutes later, he robbed one Upland.
The suspects then drove to Riverside were the attacks became violent. Patt shot a person in the parking lot at 1:50am and robbed the store clerk. That person was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The suspects then drove to Santa Ana where Patt killed 24-year old Matthew Rule in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven there. That 7-Eleven store was closed. Next he went to 7-Eleven on Lambert Rd in Brea, killing the clerk. The suspects final act was in La Habra where Patt shot two people there at a 7-Eleven.
The violence came on the franchises 95th anniversary and the date 7/11, a day where free slurpees are offered. The company originally announced a $100,000 reward for the arrest of the suspects responsible. It is unclear where that reward money will go. Patt is facing three counts of murder.
