Crime & Safety

Deputy Shoots and Kills Armed Robbery Suspect at Boulevard Burgers

Suspect's gun went off after an employee grabbed his arm.

  By Bay City News Service — An Alameda County sheriff's deputy shot and killed a masked robber who was holding an employee of Boulevard Burgers at gunpoint Friday night.

 Deputies were making a traffic stop just after 10 p.m. on Castro Valley Boulevard when they were notified of a robbery in progress at the restaurant at 3714 Castro Valley Blvd., sheriff's spokesman Sgt. J.D. Nelson said.

  Nelson said the deputies went into the restaurant and saw the suspect, who hasn't been identified, wearing gloves and a mask, holding a .357.

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  The suspect turned toward the deputies and an employee at the restaurant grabbed the suspect's arm, causing the revolver to fire one round, according to Nelson.

  A deputy opened fire at the suspect, striking and killing him, Nelson said.

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   "If the traffic stop would have been 25 feet farther, this would have been a different story," Nelson said.

  Boulevard Burgers, a 50s style diner which also has a location in San Leandro, closes at 9 p.m., according to the restaurant's website. Nelson said investigators are working on determining how the suspect got into the restaurant.

  Several employees were in the back of the restaurant at the time of the shooting, according to Nelson.

    The employee who grabbed the suspect's arm suffered a minor powder burn from the errant shot by the suspect, Nelson said.

      Castro Valley Boulevard, between Redwood Road and Forest Avenue, was closed during the investigation. 

There have been several deputy-involved shootings in Castro Valley in recent months:

In March a deputy shot a man threatening them with a mock gun. He later died of his injuries.

— In May a deputy shot a driver near an I-580 on-ramp. 

In June of 2012 a deputy shot and injured a suspect in an attempted murder after he drove his car toward officers.


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