The Convenience Store Murder

The Illinois Informer

Stock broker convicted of convenience store murder

Joshua Richardson is found guilty of second degree murder after trying to plea bargain for a shorter sentence.

January 29, 2013| By Anthony Mancillas

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|Eric Baron, left, Joshua Richardson, right. |

In the late evening of July 16th, 2012, an armed robbery in Santa Barbara, California led to the gruesome murder of Eric Baron. Baron a cashier at a local convenience store, was shot twice in the chest by Joshua Richardson. After the incident Richardson ran from authorities to evade arrest. Richardson was able to evade police as he was not identified until two days after the murder. Detective Jeffry Lang lead a state wide man hunt that tracked down Richardson in San Francisco, CA where he was attempting to blend in with the tourist traffic and did odd jobs that were paid in cash under an alias by the name of “Kyle Byrd.”

Detective Lang found Richardson after he was seen on camera trying to use his debit card to withdraw money. Richardson was apprehended July 22nd, 2012 and charged with money embezzlement, second degree murder. It was on July 28th Richardson receive 30 years in Santa Barbara county prison, with no chance for parole for his crimes.

Joshua Richardson 31 year old, a caucasian male from Santa Barbara, California. Richardson was a stock broker at Johnson and Johnson. According to Richardson's boss Alex Kobb, he was “the hardest working man he's ever seen.” As it appears, it was also reported Richardson was displaying strange behavior.

“He would walk to his desk without saying a word to anyone, and sometimes clients would walk out of his office confused,” says one of Richardson's co-workers. Kobb fired Richardson when he found out about Richardson's money embezzlement.

Mrs. Jane Richardson, confessed to authorities, “Josh had recently purchased a gun told me not to ask about it. I was worried as to why he had it, but I trusted that it was for personal protection only.”

Detective Lang in his report stated, “Richardson had purchased the .45 magnum from a gun shop called ‘American Firearm.’ Upon questioning the clerk that sold Richardson the gun we gathered that Richardson was in search of a high powered weapon such as a semi-automatic rifle. The clerk stated that the only reason behind Richardson purchasing a hand gun, was the fact that there is no background check for hand guns as there is for any type of riffle.”

Richardson was enraged from losing his job and losing much of his own money. Knowing that he was to be taken into custody soon for this money embezzlement, Richardson deduced that he must obtain money and flee from town. After he scoped out a small convenience store for any other patrons, he casually walked up to the counter, aimed the gun at Baron, and shouted “give me all the money in the register!”

In an official police report, the local authorities noted, “Baron tried to cooperate and calm Richardson down, but as time passed Richardson grew more impatient and frantic of anyone walking in to see the crime. Baron was shot after he leaped forward for the gun and struggled to relinquish it from Richardson’s possession.

Detective Lang reported at the scene saying “If this wasn’t an act of a desperate man, I don’t want to see one.” After detective Lang recovered the video surveillance footage and released a picture of the suspects face.

Mrs. Richardson called the police shortly after the story was released on the news to inform them that their suspect was her son. The police quickly released an all 5 points bulletin all over the state.

Six days after the murder, police receive an anonymous tip from a man in San Francisco, CA who claimed to have worked with a man who fit Richardson’s description but was known under the of Kyle Byrd. The anonymous man also stated that Richardson was staying at a motel on the edge of town. On July 20th, Police had used the tip to start a stake out, around the motel where Richardson was allegedly staying. He was seen twice, once on his way to work, and another coming home.

He had assumed a new name of “Kyle Byrd,” and tried to get paid in cash for doing jobs such as cleaning and manual labor.

In the early morning of July 22nd Richardson was on his way to work when police apprehended him. Richardson was extradited back to Santa Barbara to await for his trial That would take place on July 25th.

Richardson's lawyer claimed in the case, “my client has had psychological problems for the past few years that have not come to light until now. My client was forced to commit such a crime because society force him by cheating him out of money that he had worked so hard to obtain.” Richardson also plead guilty to all charges trying to reduce his sentence. He is to serve 30 years in Santa Barbara minimum security prison for 30 years with no chance for parol.

Detective Lang walked out of the court room with a smile and said “justice has been served today, and if it wasn't for the moral acts of the individuals that gave tips on Richardson's location and identity, we would have not found him when we did.”