2 men, 1 shot by police after pursuit to San Jose, charged in Concord credit union robbery
Two men who allegedly robbed a Concord credit union on Monday and led police on a chase to San Jose, where one of the suspects was shot, have been charged with multiple crimes.
Police said Cruz Vargas, 29, and Elijah Phillips, 21 -- both from San Jose—entered the Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union on Detroit Avenue in Concord shortly before 10 a.m. Monday and robbed the staff at gunpoint.
Police found their vehicle as they fled, heading south on Interstate Highway 680.
The suspects' vehicle and officers encountered heavy traffic in Sunol and the suspects' vehicle became disabled. Vargas and Phillips allegedly exited their vehicle and carjacked someone at gunpoint and tried fleeing in the car, but the victim disabled his vehicle before they could escape.
The men then allegedly carjacked another victim at gunpoint and fled in their vehicle. The pursuit led to San Jose, where the suspect's carjacked vehicle collided with another vehicle and became disabled.
Both men fled on foot with police pursuing. Vargas allegedly carried a handgun, illegally modified to be fully automatic and with a high-capacity drum magazine.
As Vargas allegedly tried carjacking another vehicle, a Concord officer shot him. He was transported to a hospital. Police located and arrested Phillips, who still had the stolen money.
Vargas was on parole for a prior carjacking and Phillips had active warrants for domestic violence and theft allegations.
San Jose police and Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office are investigating the alleged crimes that occurred in San Jose and the officer-involved shooting. The Concord officer who shot Vargas is on paid administrative leave, per department policy.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office on Wednesday charged Vargas with armed robbery, multiple counts of carjacking, felony evading, weapons violations (including possession of a machine gun), brandishing, and hit-and-run, with enhancements due to his prior felony convictions. Phillips was charged with multiple counts of armed robbery, multiple counts of carjacking, and weapons violations.
Anyone with information about the case can contact Concord Police Detective Riche at (925) 603-5922 or the Concord Police Department tip line at (925) 603-5836.
