Sacramento County, California – Nearly four months after a vehicle tore through the front of a south Sacramento jewelry store and fatally injured a longtime employee, detectives say two men are now behind bars in connection with the failed robbery.
The April attack ended without any jewelry being taken. But it left 72-year-old Harjinder Singh dead, triggered an investigation stretching from Sacramento to the Bay Area, and eventually led detectives to Oakland and Stockton-area suspects.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau detectives arrested Alfredo Colmenero-Martinez, 24, of Oakland, and Jarren Frazier, 35, of Stockton, on August 12. Both were booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail and are being held without bail.
Prosecutors charged Colmenero-Martinez with murder. Frazier faces attempted robbery and conspiracy charges.
Investigators allege Colmenero-Martinez was driving the vehicle that struck Singh, while Frazier helped plan and coordinate the robbery attempt.
The case began around 4:30 p.m. on April 18, when deputies were called to Chinna Jewellers in the 7400 block of Stockton Boulevard after a vehicle crashed into the business.
Authorities determined that a group of suspects had arrived using six recently stolen vehicles. One vehicle was intentionally rammed into the storefront in an apparent effort to break inside.
Singh, a Sacramento resident and employee of the jewelry store, was struck by the vehicle and suffered life-threatening injuries. He died 10 days later.
The suspects encountered an armed private security guard and fled the scene without taking merchandise. Surveillance footage recorded the violent impact and showed the vehicle striking Singh.
A major break in the investigation came through Automated License Plate Readers, commonly known as ALPRs or Flock cameras. Detectives used the technology to follow vehicles connected to the suspects and link evidence across jurisdictions in the Sacramento region and Bay Area.
“Without this technology, this murder would likely remain unsolved,” the Sheriff’s Office stated.
Detectives also worked with Bay Area law enforcement agencies as the investigation expanded. On August 12, officers served search warrants at four locations with assistance from the Oakland Police Department.
Colmenero-Martinez was arrested in Tracy, while Frazier was taken into custody in Concord.
Authorities have not announced arrests or charges against any additional suspects believed to have participated in the attempted robbery. The investigation remains active as the two defendants move through the Sacramento County court system.