On January 28, 2017, Alex Lin, a 44-year-old resident of Brea, California, was tragically shot and killed in an underground parking structure at a Target store located in the Brea Marketplace Shopping Center. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. when Lin was walking towards the entrance of the store. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, and Lin was found by police officers suffering from several gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial investigation suggested that the shooting might have been an isolated incident, and there was no immediate threat to the general public.
The investigation quickly led to the identification and arrest of a suspect. Thomas Allen Jenkins III, a 22-year-old man, was apprehended the following day in Moreno Valley with the assistance of SWAT teams. Jenkins was taken into custody on suspicion of murder and was booked into the county jail. The police believed that the homicide occurred during the commission of a robbery, although the exact motive remained unclear at the time. The arrest was a result of coordinated efforts by homicide detectives from Brea and Fullerton, who worked tirelessly to track down the suspect.
Further developments in the case included the arrest of a second suspect, who was also charged with murder in connection to Lin's death. The Brea Police Department faced some criticism on social media for the perceived delay in providing information to the public. However, the department defended its actions, explaining that the investigation required careful handling to avoid compromising the case and to ensure the suspects did not destroy evidence or flee the area. The police emphasized their commitment to transparency and timely communication with the public throughout the investigation.
The tragic death of Alex Lin and the subsequent arrests highlighted the swift and effective response of law enforcement in handling the case. The community of Brea was left in shock by the violent incident, which disrupted the sense of safety in the otherwise peaceful shopping center. The case underscored the importance of diligent police work and the challenges faced by law enforcement in balancing the need for public information with the integrity of ongoing investigations.
