Elk Grove Walmart manager, boyfriend accused of February robbery

The manager of an Elk Grove Walmart store and her boyfriend have been arrested in the Feb. 9 robbery at the store.

Gilbert Smith, 45, was arrested Tuesday at his Sacramento residence, and his girlfriend, Shenita Barnes, 33, was taken into custody Wednesday at work, said Officer Christopher Trim, Elk Grove police spokesman.

The robbery occurred about 2:10 a.m. Feb. 9 at the 24-hour store on Elk Grove Boulevard at Highway 99. Smith allegedly entered the store and entered the cash room using a copied management key, according to a Police Department news release. Once inside the cash room, he allegedly confronted an employee, brandished a handgun and demanded money.

The employee, fearing for his safety, gave Smith an undisclosed amount of money, police said. Smith then reportedly left the office and exited the store.

Smith was identified as the suspect during the investigation. Detectives also were able to connect Barnes, a Sacramento resident and a manager at the Elk Grove Walmart, to the robbery.

Both were booked into Sacramento County Jail on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy. Each is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, according to jail booking information available online. They are to be arraigned Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Elk Grove Walmart manager, boyfriend accused of February robbery."