Investigators Tuesday sought the whereabouts of two “persons of interest” in connection with an assault and robbery at a Lancaster gas station on Memorial Day.
Deputies responded about 1:30 a.m. Monday to a robbery call in the 800 block of East Avenue J and learned that the victims and suspects were arguing over a gas pump, according to Deputy Yeni Deciga of the sheriff’s Lancaster Station.
“During the argument, one of the suspects grabbed a victim’s purse from inside the victim’s vehicle. That victim attempted to get her purse back from the suspect, and was punched in the face by the suspect,” Deciga said. “After the first victim was punched in the face, another victim attempted to get the purse back from the suspect and was also punched in the face,” the deputy said. “The additional suspects became involved in the assault and began pushing and punching the victims as they attempted to regain the victim’s purse.”
Moments after arriving on scene, deputies located two female assault suspects, one a juvenile and the other identified as 19-year-old Emanie Jones, Deciga said.
” At this time, detectives believe two additional persons of interest were present during the incident,” Deciga said. “The deputies were unable to locate the additional persons.”
Both Jones and the juvenile were booked at the Lancaster Station jail on suspicion of robbery. Jones was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and the girl without bail, Deciga said.
The assaulted victim was assessed at the scene and released, the deputy said.
“The incident was over a gas pump only and had nothing to do with the victims being fruit vendors, as originally reported by various media outlets,” Deciga said.
Detectives are seeking the public’s help in locating the two persons of interest, as well as any additional witnesses, and urged anyone with information to call the Lancaster Station at (661) 948-8466.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.