4 Arrested in Connection with Culver City Robbery, Assault

Four people, including two juveniles, were arrested Wednesday in connection with the robbery and assault of a couple who were accosted while at a Culver City shopping center with their two young children.

According to the Culver City Police Department, officers responded around 4:40 p.m. Monday to the area of Westfield Culver City mall in the 6000 block of Sepulveda Boulevard on reports of a group of juveniles who were harassing patrons then assaulted a man.

Officers found the man, who was treated by paramedics and taken to a hospital with critical but non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

According to police, a group of five or six people believed to be between 16 and 20 years old assaulted the man and stole jewelry from his girlfriend, who sustained minor injuries. The couple had their two young children with them when the crime occurred, and they were knocked from their stroller, police said. The woman and children were taken to a hospital “as a precaution,” police said.

The suspects, who were wearing dark clothing, were last seen fleeing toward Slauson Avenue and Hannum Drive, police said.

On Wednesday, police announced the arrests of 18-year-old Zahier Frazier of Panorama City, and 24-year-old Keira Wilis of Los Angeles, along with two juveniles who were not identified due to their ages. All were booked on suspicion of robbery, police said. Frazier was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to jail records. Bail information on Wilis was not immediately available.

“From the initial response and rapid collection of video evidence to the investigative work that followed, these arrests demonstrate how technology, strong investigative work, and coordination between security team members, patrol officers, and detectives can help quickly identify and apprehend those suspected of committing violent crimes in our community,” police said in a statement.

Police said investigators were continuing to search for other possible assailants involved in the attack.

Anyone who witnessed the assault or has information on the suspects was urged to contact Investigations Lt. Ryan Thompson at 310-253-6302 or ryan.thompson@culvercity.org.