OAKLAND — A second suspect has been charged in connection with a series of takeover robberies of Oakland restaurants, police said Friday.

The suspect, Laron Williams, 18, is already in custody in connection with other crimes. He was charged Friday with multiple counts of armed robbery and false imprisonment of robberies that happened March 31 at Red Boy Pizza, 1500 Leimert Blvd., and Round Table Pizza, 398 Grand Ave., Oakland police Sgt. Larry Krupp said.

The Round Table robbery was not included initially in the series of takeover robberies in Emeryville and Oakland. It was added to the list after police made a more thorough review of the case, Krupp said. He said Williams was identified as the robber by employees at both Round Table and Red Boy. He has refused to talk to investigators, Krupp said.

The suspect who has already been charged is 16-year-old Tanom Domingue, who will be prosecuted as an adult. He has been charged with five counts of robbery with a firearm and five counts of false imprisonment in connection with the April 13 takeover robbery of Milano Ristorante, 3425 Grand Ave. Those charges stem from robbing five people and holding an additional five captive in the restaurant.

Williams was originally identified as one of the Milano robbers from a videotape of the robbery recorded at the restaurant. However, witnesses to that robbery so far have been unable to positively identify Williams.

Advertisement
He was being held on other charges when he was identified in the pizza parlor robberies.

Both Williams and Domingue are from West Oakland.

Authorities are still seeking at least two other suspects in the robbery series.

The series also included Restaurant Furenzu, 3986 Adeline St. in Emeryville, robbed April 16; Happy Garden Restaurant, 4112 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, robbed April 11; Pho 84,354 17th St. in Oakland, robbed April 8; and the Rainbow Cafe, 725 International Blvd. in Oakland, robbed April 5.

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $7,500 in each of the Oakland robberies for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Anyone with information can call police at 510-238-3326 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572 or 510-777-3211.