Santa Fe shoplifter pulls gun on Walmart security www.privateofficer.com
SANTA FE, N.M. July 11 2012 - A shoplifting run at a Walmart, turned ugly when one of the thieves pulled out a gun and attacked a store worker.
Three of the suspects were arrested but police say they are looking for one more.
Walmart is always bustling, no matter the time of day, and customers and employees at the Santa Fe store on the 3200 block of Cerrillos got quite a scare Tuesday morning.
“It sounds like these guys were just planning on taking the cigarettes, and when they were confronted, they felt the threat and pulled out a gun,” said Santa Fe Police Sgt. Andrea Dobyns. “you never know who’s going to have a gun.”
Police say four people tried to steal $300 worth of cigarettes just before 4 a.m. They were about to get away with it, but a security guard wanted to check their receipt. That’s when things took a violent turn.
“The suspect had a handgun. He hit the security guard over the head with the handgun and then pointed it at his chest,” Sgt. Dobyns explained.
Dobyns explained in surveillance shows Gabriel Martinez, 21, getting into a scuffle with the security guard. At that point, Martinez drops the loot and another employee rushes in to help the injured guard.
Martinez and his accomplices take off.
Police say there were customers in the store when it happened and it’s lucky no one else was hurt.
“We had several witnesses that came forward, and luckily they were able to identify the suspects because what happened was the suspects ended up running,” Sgt. Dobyns said. “Three of them took off on foot and one in a vehicle.”
Officers chased down the suspects, arresting Gabriel Martinez, along with his friend Thomas Martinez, 19, and another juvenile.
Gabriel Martinez is charged with aggravated assault, battery, robbery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Martinez and the other juvenile are charged as accessories.
Police say the security guard will be alright.
Police are also hoping for some tips to track down the fourth suspect who got away on foot. They say he was last seen wearing a red or black flannel shirt and walking with a female from the scene
