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Suspect arrested after gun threat at Palmdale Vallarta

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The incident happened around 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at the Vallarta located at 440 East Palmdale Boulevard. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
The incident happened around 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at the Vallarta located at 440 East Palmdale Boulevard. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
PALMDALE — A 19-year-old man was arrested Thursday night after he allegedly threatened to shoot up a Palmdale Vallarta while exposing what appeared to be a handgun, authorities said.

The man, whose name was not immediately released, was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats, according to Lt. Brian Dunn of the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats. [LUIS MEZA]
A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats. [LUIS MEZA]
“Deputies found the suspect was in possession of a BB gun, which resembled a real handgun,” Dunn stated in a news release.

The incident happened around 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, after store employees detained an alleged shoplifter at the Vallarta located at 440 East Palmdale Boulevard. A man confronted employees and demanded that they release his brother, according to Dunn.

Deputies found the suspect was in possession of a BB gun, which resembled a real handgun, authorities said. [LUIS MEZA]
Deputies found the suspect was in possession of a BB gun, which resembled a real handgun, authorities said. [LUIS MEZA]
“When the employees refused to release his brother, the man reached under his jacket and grabbed what looked to the employees to be the hand grip of a handgun protruding from his pants pocket,” Dunn stated. “The suspect threatened the store would get shot up and it would be in the news if they did not let his brother go.”

The employees called 911, and deputies arrived with two minutes, according to Dunn.

“The deputies contained the location, immediately formed a tactical response entry team and entered the location looking for someone matching the description of the suspect,” Dunn stated. “The deputies located and detained a man fitting the description, who was immediately identified as the suspect by store employees,” Dunn stated.

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

21 comments for "Suspect arrested after gun threat at Palmdale Vallarta"

  1. Some of yalls commentz are really killing me . because i know this young man and not everyone is as bad as they seem . you know looks can be decieving.. But heres to say . some events in your life sometimes promt you to make some bad decisions… Stop bashing my friend

    • Sure, looks can be deceiving, but your friend’s actions are not. Ultimately, people will be judged by their actions, or as MLK said, the content of one’s character.

      This would be a great time to praise the response from law enforcement. They were quick and diffused the situation without having to resort to lethal force.

    • What event would “prompt” someone to take a gun into a store and threaten innocent people?

      And this is your “friend”??? Really?

      You need to seriously re-evaluate the people you’re calling “friends” apparently!

  3. Way to go Vallarta staff even if you don’t speak English that’s a great job, that store is in a rough area as we all know. I worked Loss Prevention at that store between 98 & 2002 back then the employees were the ones stealing. This suspect and his brother are both scumbags and need to be locked up!

  4. Should we be shocked this happened in AV? Standard day to day life of scum that feel entitlement. Why do these punk kids think they are owed something? Why not feel obligated to get empolyed and educated. Break the cycle. Be a real bad ass and create something positive of yourself, Instead of following the footsteps of every other loser making this town the armpit it is?

    • Like the AV is the only place in the world that stuff like this happens. Get a grip on reality and contribute to the community instead of whining about it. Or get out. Either way it will improve things for the rest of us.

  5. Thinking he is all bad a$$… but he should know Vallarta is on it… you can’t shoplift there… that’s what happens when you think your bad a$$

  6. What the hell is going on in this world these days..people have no morals,respect,common sense or education just to name a few…its sad. I blame it on social media which honestly portrays a ” reality” to people that can not think for themselves, and also violence portrayed as being accepted these days. People are just quick to pull a gun for the stupidest reasons instead of settling their ” problems” in a mature way… It’s sad…get jobs or hobbies and keep yourselves busy instead of spending time threatened innocent people over [removed]

  7. Wow! There sure is a lot of speculation going on. While I agree this type of behavior is uncalled for, I can’t agree that it is only committed by former residents of a ghetto, or an associate of a section 8 recipient. Stick to the facts as you hear them…let the police and prosecutors do the investigating.

  10. These AV Most wanted / Bad Boys names have never been on a Mortgage and probably never a Rental Agreement. Can someone explain to me who is supporting these criminals. They have to sleep somewhere.