Update: Employees Shot During Ashkenaz Robbery in Stable Condition, Expected to Recover

UPDATE—March 16, 6 p.m.: Two employees at Ashkenaz who were shot and wounded during an armed robbery early today are in stable condition and expected to recover, venue officials said today. - Bay City News 

Original Post: 

An armed robbery at Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center shortly after midnight on Saturday left two employees in the hospital with serious gunshot wounds, according to a press release from the Berkeley Police Department.

Police officers with the help of a K-9 deputy from the county sheriff’s office caught one of the robbers following a search of the residential neighborhood near San Pablo Avenue and Gilman Street, but one suspect remained on the loose as of Saturday morning.

Berkeley police are not yet releasing a description of the suspect who remains at large, nor the identity of the suspect who was arrested, according to Jennifer Coats, BPD's public information officer

BPD is urging anyone who may know anything about this incident to call the BPD Robbery detail at (510) 981-5742 or the 24 hour BPD non emergency number of (510) 981-5900. If a person wishes to remain anonymous, he/she can call Bay Area Crimes Stoppers (BACS) at (800)-222-TIPS (8477). Any information may be critical to solving this crime.


The full text of the press release is below.


The Berkeley Police Department (BPD) is investigating the shooting of two employees during a robbery on March 16, 2013 at approximately 12:05 a.m., at the Ashkenaz Music and Dance Center, 1317 San Pablo Avenue.

Two armed suspects entered the crowded business and demanded cash from the employees. During the robbery two employees were shot and wounded.

BPD officers arrived on scene within moments and attempted to stop a subject who was fleeing from the area. The subject ran into a yard and officers quickly surrounded the block.

Due to the violent nature of the crimes committed, BPD’s Barricaded Subject Hostage Negotiation Team (BSHNT) was called in to search for the suspect. As a safety precaution residents in the area were notified of the incident and asked to stay inside their homes.

Berkeley Officers, working with an Alameda County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Deputy, conducted an extensive yard-to-yard search of the area looking for the suspect. During the search a suspect was located behind a building in the 1300 block of San Pablo Avenue and taken safely into custody.

BPD’s Robbery and Homicide Detectives are investigating this robbery. One suspect remains at large.

The injured employees were transported to a local hospital and treated for their serious injuries.

BPD is urging anyone who may know anything about this incident to call the BPD Robbery detail at (510) 981-5742 or the 24 hour BPD non emergency number of (510) 981-5900. If a person wishes to remain anonymous, he/she can call Bay Area Crimes Stoppers (BACS) at (800)-222-TIPS (8477). Any information may be critical to solving this crime.