Cops: Killing, holdup may be tied
Police want to question man in crimes at liquor store, restaurant
By Harry Harris, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE
OAKLAND — A liquor store holdup may be related to the robbery-slaying of a Grand Avenue restaurant manager four days later, homicide detectives said Tuesday.
Killed in the April 24 robbery at Bangkok Palace, 3300 Grand Ave., was 29-year-old Sonethavy Phomsouvanhdara.
"There is potential that (the liquor store) case is related to the robbery-murder," especially since the suspects in both cases are similar in appearance, homicide Sgt. Lou Cruz said Tuesday He declined to say more, except that the liquor store robber is "certainly someone I would like to talk to." Cruz released surveillance pictures taken of the gunman during the April 20 robbery at Grand Express Liquors, 363 Grand Ave., about a mile from Bangkok Palace.
Cruz said the man entered the store through the front door about 9:50 p.m. and demanded money from the register. He left with several hundred dollars. No one was injured.
The suspect in the liquor store robbery is African American, 25 to 30 years old, between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall with a stocky build. He was wearing a dark knit cap, sunglasses and a dark jacket.
Although there are some similarities in the two robberies, including the descriptions, there also are some differences.
The biggest is that no one was killed at the liquor store. Also, the suspect in the restaurant robbery waited for customers to leave before entering through a rear door just before 10 p.m.
Phomsouvanhdara, a native of Laos who hoped to someday own a restaurant, was working his last shift that night with two other employees. He was to have started a new job at a casino the next day.
He is survived by his wife of three years and a 3-year-old stepdaughter.
The restaurant has since reopened. The owners could not be reached Tuesday.
The restaurant killing galvanized the busy commercial district, one of the city's most prosperous, and dozens of people left bouquets of flowers outside to show their respect.
It also highlighted rising crime problems in the area and prompted at least one rally and a large community meeting attended by upset residents and businesspeople. It also resulted in the return of a foot patrol police officer to the area.
Up to $25,000 in reward money is being offered by police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland in the restaurant case and up to $1,000 in the liquor store robbery. Anyone with information should call police at 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 238-6946.
Police want to question man in crimes at liquor store, restaurant
By Harry Harris, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE
OAKLAND — A liquor store holdup may be related to the robbery-slaying of a Grand Avenue restaurant manager four days later, homicide detectives said Tuesday.
Killed in the April 24 robbery at Bangkok Palace, 3300 Grand Ave., was 29-year-old Sonethavy Phomsouvanhdara.
"There is potential that (the liquor store) case is related to the robbery-murder," especially since the suspects in both cases are similar in appearance, homicide Sgt. Lou Cruz said Tuesday He declined to say more, except that the liquor store robber is "certainly someone I would like to talk to." Cruz released surveillance pictures taken of the gunman during the April 20 robbery at Grand Express Liquors, 363 Grand Ave., about a mile from Bangkok Palace.
Cruz said the man entered the store through the front door about 9:50 p.m. and demanded money from the register. He left with several hundred dollars. No one was injured.
The suspect in the liquor store robbery is African American, 25 to 30 years old, between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall with a stocky build. He was wearing a dark knit cap, sunglasses and a dark jacket.
Although there are some similarities in the two robberies, including the descriptions, there also are some differences.
The biggest is that no one was killed at the liquor store. Also, the suspect in the restaurant robbery waited for customers to leave before entering through a rear door just before 10 p.m.
Phomsouvanhdara, a native of Laos who hoped to someday own a restaurant, was working his last shift that night with two other employees. He was to have started a new job at a casino the next day.
He is survived by his wife of three years and a 3-year-old stepdaughter.
The restaurant has since reopened. The owners could not be reached Tuesday.
The restaurant killing galvanized the busy commercial district, one of the city's most prosperous, and dozens of people left bouquets of flowers outside to show their respect.
It also highlighted rising crime problems in the area and prompted at least one rally and a large community meeting attended by upset residents and businesspeople. It also resulted in the return of a foot patrol police officer to the area.
Up to $25,000 in reward money is being offered by police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland in the restaurant case and up to $1,000 in the liquor store robbery. Anyone with information should call police at 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 238-6946.
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