A violent incident occurred at a 7-Eleven store in Anaheim, California, where a mob of approximately 40 to 50 individuals assaulted a clerk and ransacked the store, leaving the employee with a bloody nose.
Video footage of the attack, shared by KTLA, captures the chaotic scene that unfolded around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday at the convenience store located at 550 South Knott Avenue. Authorities confirmed the assault and reported that they had been alerted to an illegal street takeover in the area prior to the incident.
The video shows a group of mostly masked males forcefully pulling open the store’s door as the clerk, wielding what appears to be a broomstick, tries to keep them out. Despite his efforts, the mob was able to push their way inside. The footage reveals the clerk being hit in the stomach and then taking an uppercut from a male in a gray hoodie, which visibly stunned him. After stepping back momentarily, he raised his makeshift weapon to charge at the group, temporarily pushing them back.
However, the situation quickly escalated as the male in the gray hoodie returned to the entrance and threatened the clerk with further violence, prompting the rest of the mob to swarm into the store. Inside, several individuals climbed onto counters and began pulling down shelves, causing widespread damage and disorder. The clerk continued to defend the store but was eventually knocked to the ground by another assailant.
This incident is part of a troubling trend of flash-mob robberies targeting 7-Eleven stores in Southern California. Recent statistics from the Los Angeles Police Department indicate that between July 12 and September 20, there were 14 separate robberies at 10 different 7-Eleven locations within the LAPD’s Rampart, Hollywood, Wilshire, and West LA divisions. Some teenagers involved in these robberies have since been arrested after their parents recognized them in surveillance footage.
As for the incident in Anaheim, the extent of the stolen merchandise remains unclear, and the suspects fled before authorities arrived. Police have encouraged anyone with information regarding the attack to contact the Anaheim Police Department or to reach out anonymously through the Orange County Crime Stoppers Hotline.
The Daily Mail, CBS News, and KTLA contributed to this report.
