Local News in Brief : Suspect Captured in Fatal Shoot-Out

A suspect was in custody Friday in connection with a shoot-out during an attempted holdup at a Compton market that left two would-be robbers dead and the 14-year-old son of the storekeeper critically wounded.

Compton police making a routine traffic stop Thursday arrested Alondro Durrell Bennett, the 23-year-old brother of one of the dead men--Gearld Jarred Bennett, 18, Police Lt. Percy Perrodin said.

Alondro Bennett was booked and is being held without bail on two murder counts, one attempted murder count and a count of armed robbery in connection with Tuesday’s shoot-out at Chicho’s Mini Market, Perrodin said. He was to be formally charged and arraigned Monday, the lieutenant said.

Alondro Bennett was a passenger in the car police stopped Thursday afternoon in the 900 block of East Kay Street, Perrodin said. He initially was arrested on an outstanding traffic warrant. The driver of the car was cited for a traffic violation and released.

The shoot-out began after three men entered the market and ordered clerks behind the counter to hand over the money in the cash register. One of the men began firing and owner Jose Castillo returned the fire, fatally wounding the younger Bennett and Gearld Anthony Bennett, 26, who is not related to the Bennett brothers. Alondro Bennett will be charged with murder in connection with the deaths of his brother and Gearld Anthony Bennett, Perrodin said.

Jose Castillo Jr., who suffered a chest wound during the shoot-out, was in critical condition Friday at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Pat Fullenweider said.