FAIRFIELD, Ohio (WXIX) – One person is under arrest in the deadly robbery of a Fairfield jewelry store owner, and authorities have identified at least one other suspect, according to Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser.
In a crime that has shocked and horrified the community, Tara Sinchuri, 52, was shot dead inside Everest Jewels & Clothing off Dixie Highway just before 1 p.m. Oct. 20. Gmoser said the victim fought back during the attempted robbery before he was “executed.” “They shot him boom-boom-boom in cold blood,” Gmoser told FOX19 NOW Friday morning.
Two suspects were inside the store at the time and caught on its surveillance camera system, he said. They were identified thanks to Flock camera license plate readers as illegal immigrants who are part of a Venezuelan gang targeting Nepali-specialty jewelry stores, according to the prosecutor.
These crews target cultural jewelers because they have high-purity gold and have big cash reserves. Sinchuri, 52, was a member of the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese community. “They were hitting these stores. That was the modus operandi of the gang,” Gmoser said.
Gmoser said Fairfield police used Flock license plate-reading cameras to help identify and trace suspects all the way to the New York area, where one person was recently apprehended.
“Thank God for Flock cameras,” he said. “We need more of them. Without the Flock cameras, they would not have identified them. I want people to know how important Flock cameras are. It won’t hurt my investigation.”
The name of the suspect arrested and the charges, as well as the second suspect’s identity, were not immediately available.
Gmoser referred those questions to Fairfield Police Chief Steve Maynard. Maynard said he planned to send a news release out later Friday with details. Shortly after, the release came out, identifying Carlos Idrogo-Arias as the suspect arrested Nov. 4 in New York City.
He is being held there pending extradition to Ohio.
Investigators are seeking Richard Guzman-Guzman, who is believed to be in the New York or New Jersey area.
Guzman-Guzman should be considered armed and dangerous, police said in the news release.
Anyone who believes they know his whereabouts is urged not to approach him and to contact law enforcement immediately.
The news release said the two suspects entered the jewelry store shortly before 1 p.m. on Oct. 20 and spoke with Sinchuri ” as though they intended to make a purchase.”
Then, they pulled out guns, and a struggle ensued. Sinchuri was killed during the struggle. “The suspects then stole valuables from the store and fled the scene,” the release states.
Police said the U.S. Marshals Service helped make them make the arrest in New York and thanked the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for their assistance.
“Our investigators worked extremely hard on this difficult case, and I’m extremely proud of them,” Chief Maynard told FOX19 NOW Friday.
The prosecutor credited Fairfield police with solving the case and said the cameras played a crucial role in identifying the suspects.
“Fairfield did a great job. They were right on it. They solved it. They get credit for that,” Gmoser said.
He called for wider use of Flock cameras, saying they help authorities apprehend criminals.
His office recently instructed the Butler County Police Chiefs Association to track all successful uses of Flock cameras.
Two Butler County communities, however, Monroe and Oxford – where Miami University is located – recently stopped using Flock cameras. “I think that’s a mistake,” Gmoser said Friday.
“This is big crime detection. I need these Flock cameras. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
He said safeguards, including new state laws, can be put into place to prevent misuse by law enforcement officers – and those who do can be terminated and unable to continue working in the field.
Article provided by Fox19 News, click HERE to view article and associated photos.
Jewelers’ Security Alliance highlights anyone with information about either suspect or the investigation is asked to contact Fairfield police at 513-896-8200 or the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at 212-687-0328.