Published: October 30, 2026
DETECTIVES ARREST SUSPECT FOR ARMED ROBBERY SERIES
RIVERSIDE, CA – On Friday, October 23, 2026, at approximately 7:57 p.m., Riverside Police officers responded to a reported robbery that had just occurred near the Islamic Center of Riverside, located at 1038 Linden Street.
Officers learned that the victim, a University of California, Riverside (UCR) student, was walking in the area when he was approached from behind by a suspect riding a scooter. The suspect demanded money, and the victim believed the suspect was armed with a handgun. During the investigation, detectives determined the victim had no affiliation with the Islamic Center.
Later that same evening, a second robbery occurred in the area of Blaine Street and Canyon Crest Drive, near the Stonehaven Apartments. The circumstances of that incident were similar to those reported in the earlier robbery.
On Saturday, October 24, 2026, at approximately 7:07 p.m., officers responded to another robbery at the University Crest Apartments, located at 3130 Canyon Crest Drive. The incident shared similar circumstances to the robberies reported the previous evening. Officers from the UC Riverside Police Department conducted an extensive search of the area but were unable to locate the suspect. Detectives from the Riverside Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Unit partnered with UC Riverside Police Department investigators and launched an extensive investigation. On Monday, October 26, 2026, with assistance from the Riverside Police Department's METRO and PACT teams, detectives located and arrested 18-year-old Shareef Pendergrass of Riverside.
Investigators subsequently obtained and served a search warrant at Pendergrass's residence. During the search, detectives located evidence linking him to the robberies.
Pendergrass was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on six counts of armed robbery. His bail was set at $280,000.
This investigation remains ongoing, and no additional information is being released at this time. Anyone with information related to these incidents is encouraged to contact Detective Stanley Hua at (951) 353-7135 or [email protected], or Detective Jonathan Estrada with the UC Riverside Police Department at (951) 827-6197 or [email protected].
