Reward offered to find killers of Lancaster cashier

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11/CNS) - A $30,000 reward was offered Tuesday for information leading to the killers of a Marine Corps veteran who was gunned down during a robbery at the Lancaster convenience store where he worked.

John Ruh, 61, of Lancaster was working a cashier shift when the business in the 44400 block of Division Street was robbed about 8:30 a.m. Feb. 19 by two men, one of whom shot him in the chest before both fled on foot, sheriff's Deputy Guillermina Saldana said. Ruh died at the scene.

Detectives displayed security images of the suspects at a news conference that was attended by the victim's girlfriend, Michelle Brace, and sister, Teresa Vail.

"This has left our family totally devastated ...,'' Brace said. "He was a good man, and all we want is for him to have justice.''

Vail said: "Nobody deserves to die the way he did. And we need to find whoever is responsible, and we need to get justice; we need to know that they are being taken off the street. My brother (needs) that peace; I need that peace.''

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger had earlier announced a $20,000 reward for information that helps investigators solve the killing and bring the perpetrators to justice. The city of Lancaster has added another $10,000 to the reward total.

Anyone with information about the killing was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS, or send an email to lacrimestoppers.org.