3 victims hospitalized after string of El Monte home invasions
Police said three homes in El Monte were broken into early Sunday morning.
El Monte Police officers responded to a report of a robbery in progress at about 1 a.m. Sunday on the 2700 block of Potrero Avenue.
At least four suspects reportedly broke into three homes. All three homes are adjacent to each other.
In one of the homes, the suspects assaulted the three occupants inside and bound their hands behind their backs. Police said all three adult victims were hospitalized.
"These were bold and brazen suspects who not only told their captives to remain calm and comply with their orders," said El Monte Police Department Sgt. Aram Choe. "they were prepared to keep people."
One victim was listed in critical condition; two others were listed in stable condition. All three sustained blunt-force trauma, according to police.
The suspects were described as men in their late teens to early 20s. Authorities said two of the suspects were in custody. One of whom is an unidentified 17-year-old man. The other suspect is 24-year-old Arjaon Payne.
At least one suspect remained at large Monday.
Police said nothing appeared to be stolen from the homes.
Residents said that one of the suspects fired a shot but hit the ceiling. No one was wounded and a gun was not recovered.
"By 1:50 a.m. the helicopter was around here," said one longtime resident. "They put on the lights and they said please don't go out."
