Two men are now in custody after an armed home invasion robbery in Merced.

Merced Police officers responded early this morning at approximately 12:47 a.m. to a residence on Phelps Drive.

During the investigation, Officers were able to determine that two armed suspects robbed several individuals at gunpoint inside the home.

The two suspects stole one of the victim’s vehicles and forced one victim to go with them to another location in Merced. The suspects let the victim go and fled the area in the stolen vehicle.

The suspects were later apprehended by Californian Highway Patrol officers near Bakersfield during a traffic stop, Merced Police said.

The suspects were identified as 22-year-old Qu Ali Dayzhean Thomas and 22-year-old Emari Malik Goss. Thomas and Goss were interviewed by detectives and booked into the Merced County Jail for home invasion, carjacking, and kidnapping.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Detective Haygood at (209) 385-6998 or by Email at haygoodk@cityofmerced.org.