4-year-old boy held at gunpoint during jewelry store robbery in Salinas

A 4-year-old boy was held a gunpoint Friday afternoon while two suspects robbed Don Roberto’s Jewelry on East Alisal in Salinas, police said.

Officers said the boy and his mom were buzzed into the business just after noon, when two suspected jumped out of an Escalade and ran into the store. That’s when one suspect grabbed the boy and threatened to kill him if the store owner didn’t hand over keys to the jewelry.

The boy was handed off to the other suspect who was armed with a shotgun, while the other suspect stole jewelry from a display, police said. After grabbing the jewelry, the boy was released and the suspects ran back to the Escalade, police said.

Officers said both suspects were wearing bandanas, spoke in English and Spanish. The boy was not hurt but was very upset, officers said.