2nd Business Robbed By Gunpoint In Rohnert Park

ROHNERT PARK, CA — A man is sought in connection with the robbery Thursday of a Rohnert Park business, police said.

The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety received a call at 11:20 a.m. Thursday about a robbery at the University Square Shopping Center in the 1400 block of Southwest Boulevard.

A store employee said the man entered the store and asked to purchase merchandise; as the employee opened the cash register, the suspect removed a handgun from his waistband and demanded money.

The store employee described the suspect as a Black man who appeared to be around 20 years old and 6 feet tall with a lean build. He was wearing a gray and black hooded sweatshirt with a multi-color caricature on the front, blue jeans, black and white shoes, a black belt bag/fanny pack across his chest, and a yellow surgical mask covering his face.

The suspect was last seen walking northbound through the shopping center with an undisclosed amount of money.

"Out of an abundance of caution, area schools, businesses, and residents were asked to shelter in place while officers and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office helicopter attempted to locate the suspect," police said.

Once it was determined there was no further threat to the community, the shelter-in-place was lifted, police said.

There were no injuries reported in the incident.

2nd Business Robbed By Similar Suspect

The circumstances of the robbery Thursday and the description of the suspect were eerily similar to a robbery reported at 6:25 p.m. Monday at a business in the 6600 block of Commerce Boulevard in Rohnert Park.

According to police, the suspect entered the business and asked to purchase merchandise; as the employee opened the cash register, the suspect removed a handgun from his waistband and demanded money from the register.

The store employee from Monday's robbery described the suspect as a Black man who appeared to be 20 years old, 6 feet 1 inches tall and 200 pounds. He was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black shoes, and a blue COVID-19-style mask covering his face. The suspect left the store in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police have not disclosed the names of the businesses nor have they said whether they believe the same person was responsible.

The investigation into both robberies was ongoing; police asked anyone with information to contact Detective Kopshever at 707-588-3352 and refer to Case No. 23-1813.