The robbery occurred at the Hubci Smoke Shop at 7223 Melrose Ave. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Three men were arrested and another four suspects remain at-large in a violent robbery that occurred on March 13 at a smoke shop in the Melrose area.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division received a call shortly before 9 p.m. from two victims who told police they had been robbed by a group of suspects at the Hubci Smoke Shop at 7223 Melrose Ave. The victims told police they had been contacted earlier by one of the suspects, who arranged for them to film a music video at the store. When the victims arrived, they were confronted by several men, some armed with handguns. The suspects pistol-whipped the men and stole property, including two handguns the victims were carrying and an earring, police said. The suspects fled the location by the time police arrived.

Around 12:30 a.m., officers saw a yellow Lamborghini SUV matching a description provided by the victims and attempted to stop the vehicle. The Lamborghini drove away, leading officers on a 40-minute pursuit into the San Fernando Valley.

Wilshire Division officers later disengaged from the pursuit, which was taken over by an LAPD helicopter and the California Highway Patrol. The suspects drove into the Santa Rosa Valley, where the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and CHP eventually stopped the vehicle and detained two men, including Isaiah Dukes, a rapper from Chicago known as “Lil Zay Osama.” Police arrested the Lamborghini’s driver – Jalen Chamber, 22, of Bourbonnais, Ill. – who investigators said is the man who called the victims and made arrangements for the music video. Based on statements by Dukes and the victims, police determined that Dukes was not directly involved in the robbery and he was released after being interviewed.

Ventura County deputies also located a black BMW 850 that was identified by the robbery victims near the location where Chamber and Dukes were pulled over. They found a handgun in the second car and arrested Davon Battiste, 29, and Anthony Ramsey, 20, both of Chicago. Police believe the men all know each other and were staying in Ventura County. Chamber, Ramsey and Battiste were arrested and booked for robbery. Police impounded the Lamborghini and the BMW as evidence.

No description or information was provided about the additional suspects. Anyone with information is urged to call the LAPD’s Wilshire Division at (213)922-8205 or (213)473-0476.