SAN JACINTO (Wire Service) - A probationer was in custody today, Dec. 27, on suspicion of severely beating a San Jacinto convenience store clerk who tried to stop him from stealing merchandise on Dec. 23.

Robert Gomez, 20, of Hemet was arrested Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 26 and booked on suspicion of attempted murder, robbery and probation violations in connection with the Sunday morning, Dec. 23 attack at a 7-Eleven in the 1400 block of South San Jacinto Avenue.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Gomez allegedly grabbed a 40-ounce bottle of beer and walked out of the store without paying for it about 2 a.m. that morning.

An employee ran outside after the suspect and fell as he reached him, at which point the man was either hit or struck his head and fell unconscious, said sheriff's Sgt. Scott Sargent.

He said surveillance video tape captured the entire episode.

"The suspect ran across the parking lot and then returned to where the victim was lying unconscious and hit him with the full 40-ounce beer bottle," Sargent said. "The suspect then punched the victim repeatedly with his fists as the victim lay unconscious and then fled the Advertisement

[ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] scene on foot."

The clerk was hospitalized with serious injuries from which he's still recovering.

According to sheriff's officials, a criminal technician analyzed the tape and recognized the suspect from an unrelated incident that happened hours before the attack. Gomez was identified and located in Hemet, where he was arrested at a business on State Street.

He was booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where he's being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

(previous story, Dec. 23)

Clerk at 7-Eleven store in San Jacinto beaten during theft

SAN JACINTO (CNS) - A 7-Eleven employee who had slipped and become unconscious early Sunday morning, Dec. 23 was subsequently beaten by a thief with a 40-ounce beer bottle stolen from the store in San Jacinto, a sheriff's sergeant said.

The suspect, who bolted across the parking lot, returned to the spot where the unconscious clerk lay and pummeled him with the full beer bottle. The suspect also punched the clerk repeatedly with his fists before fleeing, the sheriff's officials said.

Deputies searched the area but could not find the suspect, Sargent said.

Paramedics took the clerk to an area hospital for treatment of multiple injuries. An investigation is ongoing.