March 17, 2025 – Tulare County Sheriff's Office officials report that just after 9:00 p.m., on Saturday evening, deputies from the Pixley Substation responded to the S&A Gas War, on the 800 block of South State Street in Earlimart for a report of an armed robbery.

Deputies learned that four males entered the convenience store and one was armed with an assault style rifle. They demanded money at gunpoint, taking with them trays of cash and some personal items, valued up to $7,000.

The four suspects fled the scene in a getaway vehicle, a gray Dodge Dart.

Patrol deputies circulated in the area and at 9:40 p.m., a TCSO patrol deputy spotted the suspect vehicle at a high rate of speed near Richgrove Drive and County Line Road in Richgrove. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle but the suspect vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit ensued into Kern County.

The Sheriff’s airplane, Tribute 1, captured the suspects fleeing their vehicle in the area of Pond Road and Highway 43, just outside of Delano. Five suspects fled to a nearby home. TCSO deputies and law enforcement officers from allied agencies surrounded them and the suspects eventually surrendered.

This is an active investigation. If anyone has information to offer, please contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 559-733-6218 or anonymously through the Sheriff’s TipNow Program at 559-725-4194 or tcso@tipnow.com.

Source: Tulare County Sheriff's Office