Robbers Allegedly Use Fake Gun to Rob East County Gun Shop

One man and two juveniles were in custody Saturday for suspicion of armed robbery following a holdup at an El Cajon gun shop Friday afternoon.

"Three masked suspects entered Hiram's Guns Store at 660 S. Magnolia Ave. about 2:09 p.m. and one of the suspects held an employee at gunpoint while the other two smashed a display case with a hammer and took several handguns," El Cajon Police Lt. Rob Ransweiler said. "The suspects fled the area in a red sedan."

The robbery victim call 911. Responding El Cajon officers located the sedan with three occupants headed west on Interstate 8.

"When the officers attempted to stop the vehicle on the freeway, the driver sped away and the car exited the freeway in La Mesa," Ransweiler said. "After a few quick turns the car turned into a storage facility lot off Baltimore Drive at 8025 Fletcher Parkway, where the road dead-ended."

When the suspects attempted to turn around, Ransweiler said they were blocked by multiple police vehicles before being apprehended.

"When officers searched the vehicle they recovered stolen handguns from the robbery, a replica handgun and masks," Ransweiler said.

The suspects were arrested and taken to the El Cajon Police Department for processing, Ransweiler said.

The vehicle, a red, four-door '98 Chevrolet Lumina registered in El Cajon, was impounded.

The vehicle driver was identified by police as Mykeon D. Menefee, 20, of El Cajon.

Ransweiler said Menefee was taken to San Diego County Jail for booking and the two juvenile accomplices were taken to Juvenile Detention Center.

All three suspects were facing felony charges of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, Ransweiler said. He said the driver also faces felony evasion charges.

—City News Service