String of 7-Eleven shootings on chain's anniversary leave 2 dead, 3 injured in Southern California

Two people were killed and three injured during a string of pre-dawn robberies Monday at six 7-Eleven stores in Southern California. Authorities say they are searching for the same lone gunman in at least half of the robberies.

The violent spree occurred across a span of five hours on Monday, July 11 or 7/11 – the day the chain stores celebrates its anniversary by giving out free Slurpee drinks. 

It remains unclear exactly what sparked the string of violent events that began in the inland city of Ontario and progressed through Upland, Riverside, Santa Ana, Brea and La Habra. 

A masked man with a gun walked into a 7-Eleven in Ontario just past midnight Monday and demanded money. At the second location, 45 minutes later, the suspect made his way to the store clerk with some items for check out as well as a semi-automatic handgun. The man departed with some stolen items and about $500 in cash without firing any shots.

Police in La Habra, Brea, and Santa Ana believe they are seeking the same individual, while officers in Upland, Riverside, and Ontario are still working to make that determination.

In the ensuing robberies, a suspect shot a customer in Riverside, leaving the victim in grave condition. The next shooting occurred at about 3:20 a.m. in Santa Ana. One man was found dead in the parking lot of that 7-Eleven with a gunshot wound in his upper torso. Less than an hour later, a 7-Eleven employee was shot and killed in Brea, and an hour after that, officers discovered two gunshot victims at a 7-Eleven in the neighing city of La Habra.