2 arrested in deadly ramming of south Sacramento jewelry store during attempted robbery
A 72-year-old man died from his injuries after a south Sacramento jewelry store was rammed by a car in April.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Two men have been arrested in connection with a violent break-in at a south Sacramento jewelry store earlier this year that left a 72-year-old man dead.
Chinna Jewellers Inc. on Stockton Boulevard was rammed by a car on April 18 during an attempted robbery. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said investigators determined that a group of would-be robbers arrived in six stolen vehicles.
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During the robbery attempt, one car sped through the parking lot, narrowly missing a security guard before jumping the curb and crashing into the storefront.
The 72-year-old man inside the business was struck by the vehicle and died 10 days later.
Alex Marchuk, a private security supervisor tasked with protecting the store, told KCRA 3 at the time that he sprang into action after witnessing the crash.
“I saw right there, a family member, elderly man. He was laying under the car right there and yelling,” Marchuk said.
The store’s owner, Inderjit Singh, said he, his family and customers were inside at the time, describing the sound of the crash as resembling an explosion. Singh’s uncle was the man who was struck and later died.
According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the security guard thwarted the robbery.
Marchuk said he drew his gun and commanded one of the men to stop and lay on the ground, but the individual, wearing a hoodie and black gloves, did not comply.
As Marchuk chased him out of the store, he noticed several cars pulling up and people with bags.
Singh said at the time it was the second time his store was broken into, with the last incident occurring in 2020.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday that automated license plate readers helped to solve the case, along with cooperation with law enforcement partners in the Bay Area.
Detectives identified 24-year-old Alfredo Colmenero-Martinez of Oakland as the driver who rammed the building and struck the victim, according to the sheriff’s office. He faces a murder charge.
Jarren Frazier, of Stockton, was identified as having planned and coordinated the attempted the robbery, and faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
Detectives arrested Colmenero-Martinez in Tracy and Frazier in Concord on Wednesday.
Both were booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail and are ineligible for bail, the sheriff’s office said.
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