Gunshots fired at Coachella store over beer, cigarettes

A man fired a shotgun into a beverage cooler at a Coachella 7-Eleven Thursday to get access to an 18-pack of beer and cigarettes, a sheriff’s sergeant said.

The robbery was reported shortly before 3 a.m. at a 7-Eleven at 1030 6th St.

Two men entered the store, one carrying a shotgun and went to the locked alcoholic beverage coolers, sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Pickowitz said.

“The clerk was inside the cooler stocking the shelves. The suspect with the shotgun discharged one round into the glass door of the cooler, shattering the glass,” Pickowitz said.

The suspects grabbed an 18-pack of beer and several packs of cigarettes. They were last seen heading southbound on Harrison Street on foot. The clerk was not hurt, Pickowitz said.

The first suspect was described as a Hispanic man in his early 20s, with a shaved head, about 5 feet 7 inches tall with a thin build. He was carrying a shotgun, and his face was covered with a shirt. He wore white gloves, a gray jean jacket, black skinny jeans and white tennis shoes.

The second suspect was described as a Hispanic man in his early 20s, with a shaved head, about 5 feet 5 inches tall with a stocky build. He wore baggy light blue jeans, a baggy white T-shirt and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about the suspects was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (760) 863-8990 or via email at thermalstationriversidesheriff.org. Tips can also be reported to Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867.