The Concord Police Department identified Cruz Vargas and Elijah Phillips involved in an armed robbery that resulted in a police chase and officer involved shooting in San Jose. Multiple charges have now been filed.
According to Concord Police, this past Monday, April 21, shortly before 10 am, two male suspects entered the Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union on Detroit Avenue in Concord and robbed the staff at gunpoint. As they were leaving the area, Concord Police Department officers located the suspect vehicle, which immediately began to flee, and a police pursuit was initiated. The suspects ultimately fled south on Interstate 680.
During the course of the pursuit, both the suspect vehicle and officers encountered heavy traffic on SB Interstate 680 in Sunol. The suspect vehicle became disabled. The suspects then exited their vehicle and carjacked one victim at gunpoint and attempted to flee in that person’s car, but the victim driver was able to disable his vehicle, before they were able to escape. The suspects then carjacked another victim at gunpoint and fled in their vehicle.
Concord Police Department officers pursued the suspects in the carjacked vehicle to San Jose where that vehicle collided with another vehicle and became disabled. Both suspects fled on foot. Concord Police Department officers continued to chase one of the suspects, later identified as Cruz Vargas, a twenty-nine-year-old male from San Jose, who was holding a handgun, illegally modified to be fully automatic and with a high-capacity drum magazine, in his hand.
Concord Police Department officers saw Vargas attempt to carjack another vehicle and at this point one officer fired his gun striking Vargas, who was then taken into custody and provided medical aid. Vargas was then transported to an area hospital for treatment.
San Jose Police Department officers responded and conducted a search for the second suspect. They located Elijah Phillips, a twenty-one-year-old male from San Jose, who was still in possession of the money stolen from the credit union robbery.
It was later learned that Cruz Vargas was on CDCR parole for a prior carjacking and Elijah Phillips had active warrants for domestic violence and theft.
The Concord Police Department detectives responded and investigated the bank robbery, carjacking, and other crimes that led to San Jose.
The San Jose Police Department and Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office investigators responded to investigate the crimes that occurred in San Jose and the officer involved shooting. The Concord Police Department officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave per department policy.
Today, the Concord Police Department Major Crimes Unit presented the case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. The district attorney’s office filed multiple counts of armed robbery, multiple counts of carjacking, felony evading, weapons violations (including possession of a machine gun), brandishing, and hit-and-run charges against Cruz Vargas, as well as enhancements due to his prior felony convictions. They filed multiple counts of armed robbery, multiple counts of carjacking, and weapons violations (possession of a machine gun) charges against Elijah Phillips.
While charges have been filed, the investigation into this case is on-going. Anyone with further information regarding this case is asked to contact Concord Police Department Major Crimes Unit Detective Riche at (925) 603-5922 or the Concord Police Department tip line at (925) 603-5836. ~481/596
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