Robbery suspects sought after teen is smacked with gun in El Segundo

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (KABC) -- Police were searching for two armed suspects accused of robbing teen volunteers in El Segundo on Saturday.

According to the El Segundo Police Department, the robbery happened shortly before 8 a.m. in the 500 block of W. Imperial Avenue.

Two young women were sitting on the curb waiting to do environmental volunteer work in the area when they were approached by a suspect with a handgun.

The male suspect demanded both of the women's cellphones. When one of the victims hesitated to hand over the phone, the suspect struck her in the face with the barrel of his gun, according to police.

After taking the two cellphones, the suspect ran eastbound on Imperial Avenue to an awaiting older maroon sedan, which then fled. Police said the vehicle may possibly be a 1990s Chevrolet Impala or Ford Thunderbird.

The girls noticed two women jogging and quickly ran to them for help.

The suspect was described as a black man in his early to late 20s with a black beard. Police said he is about 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs close to 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap and all dark clothing.

A second suspect, who was driving the suspect vehicle, was described as a black man in his late 20s or early 30s with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt.

Video footage from a nearby apartment complex shows the suspect vehicle driving by the two victims, and it captured the suspected robber attack the woman with his gun.

Anyone with information related to the crime or the suspects' identities was urged to contact El Segundo police at (310) 524-2255.