Woman robbed at gunpoint in Manhattan Beach parking lot
Christopher Hunter, 30, of Paramount. Photo courtesy of Hawthorne Police Department
Police arrested a suspect who allegedly robbed a woman at gunpoint last Wednesday at approximately 4 p.m. in the parking lot of Office Depot on Rosecrans Avenue in Manhattan Beach, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
The suspect, identified by Hawthorne police as Christopher Hunter, 30, of Paramount, reportedly fled with the victim’s purse, wallet and iPhone.
The Manhattan Beach robbery turned out to be one case in a string of robberies involving the same suspect: About four hours later, Hunter allegedly robbed another woman at gunpoint near El Pollo Loco Restaurant in Hawthorne. A similar armed robbery with matching suspect descriptions was also documented in Norwalk.
Hawthorne police quickly located and pursued the suspect’s vehicle into South Los Angeles, where he, after crashing his car into another, fled on foot.
Hawthorne police, assisted by MBPD, contained the area and eventually found the suspect hiding under a car.
The Manhattan Beach victim positively identified the suspect and his car, where a handgun was found.
Hunter was booked at the Hawthorne Police Department jail with bail set at $300,000. He was charged with three counts of armed robbery.