British Indie Rock Band Robbed at Gunpoint in California Starbucks Parking Lot

December 4, 2024 11:05 am

On the morning of Tuesday, December 3, a touring British Indie rock band was held at gunpoint and robbed outside of a Starbucks in Vallejo, California. The band in question is Sports Team, and they planned to kick off their US tour in Sacramento, California the day of the incident.

Videos by American Songwriter

Prior to the robbery, the band intended to embark on their US tour on Monday, December 2. However, after their flight from the UK was delayed, they had to postpone their first show to Tuesday. Sports Team is not entirely familiar with the United States, so this criminal event took them quite off guard. Although, they are safe, sound, and were able to document the entire thing via Instagram.

Following the robbery, the band posted and wrote, “Just been robbed at gunpoint 10 minutes into the US tour.” “Stopped for coffee. Man runs in saying some guys are smashing into a van. Ran out to try to stop it and find masked guys ransacking the van” and they “Start yelling and they pull out a gun,” the post added.

Subsequently, the band and all of Starbucks’ customers took refuge inside the store. The posted video shows one of the perpetrators pointing a firearm at the tour manager and two of the other band members running back into the Starbucks for safety.

Despite taking most of the contents inside the van, they did not take their instruments. The band also wrote in the post, “Police response was ‘submit an online report’” and ” In all seriousness pretty shocking how resigned everyone seemed to be to it. ‘It happens.’ 9 am at some petrol station Starbucks. Wild.”

According to the BBC, the band “lost their passports, stage equipment and personal belongings in the incident.” The band, who have charted two Top 10 albums in the UK, aims to proceed with their US tour. Drummer Al Greenwood told CBS News Sacramento, “It’s been quite a surreal day I think” and “There’s no better way to get through something like that than to get on stage and connect with people through music.”