Antelope businesses robbed at gunpoint; suspect at large

Police are searching for a man who robbed two businesses in the Antelope Square commercial center on the Murrieta-Menifee border Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Murrieta Police Department officers responded at 10:40 a.m. to the center, located on the southeast corner of Antelope Road and Scott Road. A male suspect robbed the businesses at gunpoint and fled the area, said Sgt. Jeremy Durrant. Multiple police vehicles converged on the area and a police helicopter was deployed, but the suspect remains at large, Durrant said.

A business owner in the center, who requested anonymity, told Menifee 24/7 he was robbed at gunpoint by a man wearing a hoodie and mask. The business did not have cash on hand, but the suspect escaped with the owner's wallet and cell phone. The victim was not harmed.

The owner said the suspect walked into the business, demanded money, took the items handed over to him and checked a drawer that held no cash. Inexplicably, he then shook the owner's hand before walking to the door, telling the victim not to move, and walking out.

Then, according to the business owner, the man walked a couple doors down and robbed another business in the same center before fleeing the area. Four business owners told Menifee 24/7 they locked their doors and believe the man escaped on foot.

Durrant said police vehicles remain in the area and the investigation is ongoing. No description of the suspect has been released because reports were conflicting, he said.

Two of the business owners said police were told surveillance cameras in the center were not operating, so no video surveillance is available. Police did not identify the businesses robbed and the owners asked that they not be identified.