2 days ago
Bay Area trio wore Michael Myers masks in armed Florida robbery, FBI says
Federal charges were filed Monday against three Bay Area men accused of staging a brazen daytime robbery at a Florida electronics store while wearing Halloween masks and wielding what appeared to be firearms.
According to court documents obtained by local media outlets, Aaron Brown, 35, and Eric Chase, 42, of Oakland, and Ranier Landry, 27, of Hayward, flew from San Francisco to Miami two days before the alleged heist.
On Friday morning, the trio reportedly arrived at a Sweetwater business in a white GMC van, wearing gloves and masks of the 'Halloween' horror film character Michael Myers. Once there, they forced an employee inside at gunpoint — what appeared to be real guns were later identified as BB guns — and zip-tied six workers.
Authorities say two of the men began loading Apple products into a bedsheet while the third stood watch. The robbery came to an abrupt halt when they heard police sirens approaching.
The suspects fled in the van, prompting a police pursuit during which officers opened fire, striking Chase in the leg.
The pursuit ended in nearby Medley, where police arrested all three and recovered two airsoft guns, masks and tactical vests. The stolen merchandise, about 170 Apple devices worth roughly $170,000, was left behind.
Surveillance footage captured one suspect wearing neon green dotted underwear visible above sagging pants, distinctive clothing later matched to Brown at the time of his arrest.
According to a federal complaint, the suspects were dropped off around 10:45 a.m. Friday at 10893 NW 17th St. The van's driver and any additional passengers fled and remained at large as of Friday.
The FBI is leading the robbery investigation. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing the police shooting.
