SAN JOSE – Four individuals, including a juvenile, have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a San Jose convenience store that occurred last Friday. Authorities believe the group may be linked to at least two other armed robberies in the area.
Police responded to the robbery at a store located on the 400 block of South Kiely Boulevard just after 5 a.m. Officers reported that three suspects entered the store, with one brandishing a handgun and another holding a rifle. The suspects struck the employee in the head with the handgun before forcing him towards the cash register. They demanded that the victim open the register, stealing several hundred dollars before fleeing the scene.
A preliminary investigation suggested that the suspects were likely connected to a similar robbery at a convenience store in Santa Clara just two days earlier, as well as another armed robbery in Union City on the same day. Authorities coordinated with police departments in Santa Clara and Union City, which helped them track down the suspects’ vehicle.
By 2 p.m. Friday, officers found the suspect vehicle abandoned in Santa Clara. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of two replica firearms, which are believed to have been used in the robberies.
The suspects were identified as 22-year-old Blay Tacha Mellizo, 18-year-old Juan Hernandez Estrada, 19-year-old Andrey Guedez Melo, and a 17-year-old juvenile male, all from San Jose. Mellizo, Estrada, and Melo were booked into the Santa Clara County Jail, while the juvenile was taken into custody at juvenile hall. All four suspects face charges of armed robbery.
